OMAHA, Neb. - Dating to 1978, North Carolina coach Mike Fox had participated in each of the Tar Heels' victories in the College World Series -- two as a player, eight as a coach -- before Sunday's elimination game against Fresno State.

But dating to 1987, Georgia coach David Perno, whose team will play in the championship series beginning tonight, has now been connected to each of the Bulldogs' six trips to the CWS.

"All of those teams are the reason we are here," he said Sunday.

Perno's brother, Donn, was a player on the first Georgia team to reach Rosenblatt Stadium, in 1987. Then Perno was a utility infielder on the 1990 team that won the national title.

He was an assistant coach on the 2001 CWS team before leading Georgia to Omaha berths in 2004, 2006 and again this season as head coach. And he particularly credits his last two CWS teams for this year's success.

"They're the pioneers," he said. "Understanding what this is about creating the mentality not just to get here, but to win here. It's a pretty special feeling to play in the championship series."

As well as win the whole thing -- as he knows from experience.