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Shatel: Matt Vrzal, man of football, pizza and people, left us too soon — but he left us full

COLUMN BY TOM SHATEL Omaha World-Herald

“See ya, Shatel.”

That was the last thing I heard Matt Vrzal say on Wednesday night, the last thing he always said as I left Piezon’s after my weekly slice of pizza and “Vrz.”

I’m a regular at the west Omaha pizza joint on Wednesday nights, sitting at the bar with other regulars — occasionally with Creighton associate head basketball coach Steve Merfeld.

The pizza is terrific and comes in a huge slice that serves as a meal. But I always showed up for the conversation with the proprietor/cook/barkeep.