OMAHA, NEB. - While North Carolina's baseball team is staying in its third hotel in three years at the College World Series (as assigned by the NCAA), the parents have settled into their home-away-from-home: the Hawthorn Suites on M Street.

"We've spent a lot of time here,'' said third baseman Chad Flack's dad, Tripp, who has slept in the efficiency hotel each of the past three years. "It is nice to be in a familiar place ... and with the families all together, we get to spend a lot of time together."

The parents actually have South Carolina to thank for their accommodations.

In 2006, when the Tar Heels beat Alabama in dramatic fashion during the Super Regionals, the families were scrambling for hotel rooms in Omaha when they learned the Gamecocks -- who had lost -- canceled their regularly booked block of rooms at the Hawthorn. Then last season, UNC beat USC in the Super Regionals, so the block of rooms went to the Tar Heels, again.

"The first time, they helped us by not making it,'' Flack said, laughing. "The second time, we helped ourselves by beating them."

This year, the hotel automatically held some rooms for their regular Tar Heels visitors, and Flack estimates about 75 percent of the families -- and some other fans -- are staying there. With so much free time, they can often be found lounging by the pool or chatting in the lobby.

The conversation of choice Wednesday: Tuesday night's loss to Fresno State, and how to beat LSU this evening.

"Hey, at least we get to see them play more games this way,'' Flack said, putting a positive spin on falling into the losers' bracket. "We're hoping to have a few more days here."