Ye olde notebook:
A piece of news that flew under the radar in the Mountain State was the departure of Michael Szul from West Virginia University's athletic department.
While speaking with WVU Director of Athletics Shane Lyons on Monday, he mentioned Szul and the move.
"We're trying to finish up some budget issues and fill a couple of positions internally here," Lyons said. "I'm in the process of hiring a Chief Financial Officer since Mike Szul left for Rutgers. Dealing with those issues take a little time."
Indeed, Rutgers Athletic Director Pat Hobbs hired Szul to the position of Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs and Strategic Communications back on May 26. He was hired by former WVU AD Oliver Luck back in October of 2010 and given the title of Associate Athletic Director for Business Operations.
Szul's departure can be considered a blow to WVU. He was responsible for the athletic business office and management of the school's athletic budget. He helped Luck with the department's transition from the Big East to the Big 12.
Big shoes to fill.
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While on the subject of moves, state native Dave Wojcik has resigned as the head basketball coach at San Jose State for what he called personal reasons.
A Wheeling native, Wojcik - whose brother Doug was an assistant at Notre Dame and Michigan State and head coach at Tulsa and the College of Charleston before being embroiled in "verbally abusive" charges at the latter - was a top assistant at Loyola University with current ESPN analyst (and ex-Wheeling Central High coach) Dino Gaudio.
Dave Wojcik took over as athletic director and boys basketball coach at Wheeling Central back in the early 2000s and guided the Maroon Knights to state titles in 2002 and 2003.
At San Jose State, Wojcik's teams were 32-90. He said helping his widowed mother and overseeing his son's move to the East Coast contributed to the move.
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A couple questions/thoughts:
How long do you think most of us will keep calling the AAC "the old Big East"?
Also, how many times do you think ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum has uttered the name Nick Saban?
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While on the subject of Finebaum, his beloved SEC has been having its Media Days this week. In case you're unaware, that's usually the first sign college football is sneaking up on us.
Hold up vacation! I'm coming!
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Many in the state watch Root Sports on television. The network airs some WVU football and basketball games, as well as games of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Penguins, Pitt Panthers and some high school games.
Well, it's been reported Root is being rebranded into AT&T SportsNet. So don't be confused. (The network has been Root since 2011.)
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I saw WVU's women's teams finished No. 13 in the final Capital One Cup, which ranks each NCAA school based on athletic results.
That's impressive. Within the Big 12, West Virginia finished third to Oklahoma (sixth overall) and Texas (11th).
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And finally ...
I recently saw a Sports Illustrated baseball food story. It seems the Seattle Mariners have a stadium hit on their hands via Chapulines.
That's toasted grasshoppers. And the report says the Mariners many times sell out before the games even begin.
My question: Wouldn't the product be better placed at cricket matches?
Have a great day.
Contact Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827 or mitchvingle@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @MitchVingle.