Craig Holiday, who traveled to Omaha on the team bus from Wichita Monday, wanted to get here as soon as he could to start negotiating for space at one of the houses across from Rosenblatt.
The result was the creation of Eater Nation, a combination of tables and chairs under tarps to create shade, pro-UCI banners, a large flat-screen television and some considerable bragging rights.
"We wanted to outdo Fullerton," said Craig Holiday, who said transforming the empty yard into a meeting spot with about nine three-by-10-foot tables, and about 60 chairs, came at no small cost.
How much did it set him back?
"A bunch," he said.
The main banner reads Eater Nation, while several other banners are printed with Irvine and Eaters, with official school logos, as well.
Eater Nation is closer to the stadium than Titan House.
ALL IN THE FAMILY
UCI Coach Dave Serrano referred to Cal State Fullerton Coach George Horton, for whom he played at Cerritos College and later worked for as an assistant at Cerritos and Cal State Fullerton, as a second father and his best friend.
Horton said he appreciated that relationship and that he loved both Serrano and his family.
Horton said it was special to be in Omaha with Serrano, as well as UCI assistants Sergio Brown (who played and coached at Fullerton) and Greg Bergeron (who played for Horton at Cerritos). He said it was similar to being at the 2004 World Series with his mentor, Augie Garrido, who coaches at Texas.
"The son beat the father that time, didn't he?" Serrano said of the 2004 series, in which the Titans topped the Longhorns in the championship series to claim the national title.
RUMBLE COACH RUMBLE
