Utah’s first road trip of the season came with an unexpected passenger, and it was the kind of guest that turned heads long after the plane touched down in Ames, Iowa.
In a post on Utah’s Crimson Club X account, four Utah donors were shown stepping off the plane with their hands forming the signature “U” sign. But the person drawing the most attention was right behind them: Ronald A. Rasband, an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
For Utah coach Morgan Scalley, that made the trip even more memorable.
“[It was] fantastic,” Scalley said. “All our guys - I educated them on who he is.
Obviously, our LDS players know who he is. But just to have his presence - it was fun catching up with him.
He’s an Olympus High grad. He’s a University of Utah guy.
He’s just a humble servant, and our guys loved it.”
Scalley, who is also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said the visit meant something to him personally as well.
Rasband’s connection to the university runs deep. He attended Utah’s business college in the 1970s, but left before graduating after Jon Huntsman Sr. hired him for a senior marketing job at Huntsman’s company. This year, he received an honorary degree at the school’s commencement ceremony.
“To receive this recognition from my alma mater feels like a tender, full-circle blessing for which I am profoundly grateful,” Rasband posted on Instagram. “The counsel I shared with the graduating class applies to each of us: love your fellow man and look for the good in others.”
Rasband’s support hasn’t been limited to Utah, either. He’s shown up at college football and basketball games before, including being caught on camera celebrating Legend Glasker’s one-handed grab during BYU’s win at Colorado State.
Scalley said he didn’t know exactly how Rasband ended up on the trip, but the reaction inside the program was simple.
“We were just happy to have him.”
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