Demolition crews have bashed old Boshamer Stadium at the University of North Carolina, clearing ground for a new, $25 million baseball venue scheduled to open next spring.

What hasn't been bashed and doesn't need building is coach Mike Fox's program, which has pitched and powered its way to the College World Series finals two years in a row.

Stocked again with an experienced, talented lineup, Carolina opens the 2008 season at Florida Atlantic today ranked No. 2 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll. But a coterie of challengers will be yapping at UNC's heels.

There's Florida State (No. 12), Miami (No. 14), Clemson (No. 16), Virginia (No. 20) and rival N.C. State from the ACC, plus East Carolina, a Conference USA title contender sporting a No. 24 national ranking by Baseball America.

While State isn't in the polls, the Pack has plenty of quality pitching and expects to make a run at Florida State and Clemson in the ACC's Atlantic Division.

Duke will try to build on last year's 29-25 record, the Blue Devils' first winning season since 1998.

All the drama will unfold amid much fanfare as interest in college baseball throughout the Triangle continues to rise. Fifty-one ACC games will be televised on six networks this season.

"The sport has taken a huge jump,'' Fox said. "There are a lot of good programs in our state, alone. Coaches are committed. Administrators are committed. There's good talent ... TV and Web sites are everywhere."

East Carolina coach Billy Godwin, whose Pirates play in one of the region's premier stadiums, cited a host of "top-of-the-line" facilities that have been built in the past decade.

"Baseball is now looked at not as an Olympic sport, but more of a revenue sport," said Godwin, whose ECU team drew 126,000 fans at 42 home games last year for an average of 3,000 a game.

Those attendance figures likely would be even higher if the season started later, rather than in the wintry chill of February.

UNC has been a prime mover in heightening enthusiasm with its recent success and national TV exposure. And the Tar Heels' hopes are pennant-flag high again.

While waiting for its new facility, UNC will play home games at the USA Baseball national training complex in Cary, a park Fox says his team is enjoying.

The Tar Heels have eight returning position starters led by All-America Dustin Ackley, who hit .402 as a freshman. Tim Fedroff (.344), Tim Federowicz (.333), Garrett Gore (.324) and Kyle Seager (.308) also are part of a solid-swinging lineup.

"The strength is our position players,'' Fox said. "We have seven or eight who have played a lot of baseball the last two or three years in big environments. Our guys know what it takes, how to win on the road, how to win big games."

Carolina suffered heavy pitching losses with the departure of career wins leader Robert Woodard, Matt Danford and All-America closer Andrew Carignan. But Fox has confidence in his weekend rotation of Adam Warren, a perfect pitcher last season (12-0), Alex White (6-7 a year ago) and Rob Catapano (1-1), a first-time starter. Pre-season All-America Rob Wooten (6-1), a set-up man in '07, has assumed the closer role this spring.

As usual, the Tar Heels have a picture in their locker room of Omaha's Rosenblatt Stadium, site of the College World Series. It's the destination they hope to reach again, but a subject "we never talk about it," says Fox, who wants his players to focus on the journey.

N.C. State doesn't flaunt the long-ball power of some teams, but the Pack could pitch and punch its way to a sixth straight NCAA playoff berth.

"We can definitely pitch; we have good, quality starters and good guys in the bullpen," said coach Elliott Avent. "We've got to [be] consistent defensively and opportunistic on the offensive end."

Eric Surkamp (4-5, 3.47 ERA) a second-team All-ACC pick last year, and last year's closer, Eryk McConnell (3-2, 1.72), are two mainstays on the mound.

Top returning hitters include freshman All-America Dallas Poulk (.394), Ryan Pond (.326), Marcus Jones (.321) and Pat Ferguson (.319).

At East Carolina, Godwin says this is "the most excited" he has been going into the season, his third as Pirates coach.

And why not?

ECU returns a veteran lineup from last year's regional playoff team and a bevy of .300 hitters led by Stephen Batts (.323), Ryan Wood (.318), Kyle Roller (.306), Jamie Ray (.306) and Drew Schieber (.301). Leadoff man Harrison Eldridge (.295, 58 runs) and all-region tourney catcher Corey Kemp (.267) also return.

T.J. Hose (6-5, 3.97 ERA) paces the pitching staff and is slated as the Friday starter, with freshman Seth Maness and Auburn transfer Justin Bristow completing the weekend rotation at East Carolina. UNC transfer Matt Cox, and freshmen Matt Laney and Sthil Sowers are other potential starters.

"This could be my best team,'' said Godwin, noting that how quickly young pitchers mature will be a "huge key."