Not that it was possible.

N.C. State was finishing up its workout Thursday morning, preparing for its opening game today against James Madison in the NCAA Raleigh Regional. South Carolina was to take the field next, and Tanner, now in his 12th year as the Gamecocks coach, soon was chatting up old friends as he took it all in -- the baseball park he once called home, where he felt at home.

Tanner didn't want it to be this way this week. The Gamecocks, 38-21 and seeded second in the regional, face No. 3 seed Charlotte (43-14) today in what Tanner hopes will be the first step toward his fourth College World Series appearance at South Carolina.

But Tanner played at State, for Sam Esposito. He coached at State. He fought for better baseball facilities at State.

If Doak Field had the same look in 1996 that it has today -- well-manicured playing field, red seats, well-appointed coaching offices, training room and locker room -- Tanner, a Benson native, might never have left State. Elliott Avent, an assistant on Tanner's first staff in 1988, might never have come to State.

The "Avent's Army" sign below the grassy bank seating area? It might read "Tanner's Troops."

"Oh, they probably would have run me out of here by now," Tanner joked. "But I have nothing but fond memories. I spent 20 years on this campus, from the time I was freshman until I went to Columbia [S.C.] in 1996, so it is very special."

As for the "new" Doak, Tanner smiled, saying, "It's a fabulous facility now."

In nine seasons as the Wolfpack's coach, Tanner sought to make Doak Field fabulous -- well, at least competitive with the other ACC parks. He fought to have NCSU place financial bids to host an NCAA regional.

But baseball, and Doak Field, was not a big priority for former NCSU athletic director Todd Turner. There was a new basketball arena to be built and a football stadium that needed refurbishing. Money was tight.

Tanner did get lights for Doak in 1996 but little else in improvements. So with three years left on his contract, which paid him $61,200 a year, Tanner left for South Carolina, which was offering to double his salary.

Since 1997, it has been Avent's program. The Pack was an NCAA regional host in 2003 but played the games in Wilson's Fleming Stadium -- and won the regional -- while Doak Field was undergoing a $5 million renovation.

Today's 2 p.m. matchup between South Carolina and Charlotte will be the first NCAA tournament baseball game on the NCSU campus -- with the obvious irony of Tanner being in the dugout. And one of his assistants is Sammy Esposito, who played at State and is the son of the former Pack coach.

"To host a regional has been a long time coming and very deserving for N.C. State, and I'm happy to see it here," Tanner said.

As is the Pack (38-20), the No. 1 seed in the regional and a program looking for its first trip to the College World Series since 1968.

"To be able to sleep in your own bed, and come home and play at your home field in front of your own fans ... is huge," senior outfielder Ryan Pond said. "You're just comfortable.

"It makes everything easier."

Winning first-round games has not been easy for the Pack. State has lost its past three, including a 6-3 loss to Charlotte last year in the regional at South Carolina's Sarge Frye Field.

The Dukes (38-17), seeded fourth, made it into the NCAA tournament by winning the Colonial Athletic Association tournament. Coach Spanky McFarland said his team is "living the dream."

"We're not real good at anything, but we're pretty good at everything," he said.

But James Madison, which reached the College World Series in 1983, is here and ready, the coach said.

"If this was football or basketball, I think we'd be in trouble," McFarland said. "But it's baseball."

NCAA baseball. At Doak Field.