By Scott Bauer
The Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb. - Fans at the College World Series may cheer for different teams, but they appear to be united about one thing: They love Rosenblatt Stadium.

"It's a tradition," said first-time CWS attendee John Kinney of Laurens, Iowa. "When you bring in a new stadium it might change everything."

The Omaha Royals, Kansas City's Class AAA affiliate, is pressing the city for a new stadium.

Rosenblatt has been the home of the College World Series since 1950 and the contract with Omaha runs through 2005. The stadium is 55 years old.

Replicating the tradition of Rosenblatt would be next to impossible, fans said.

"'The Road to Omaha' has been such a great theme for so many years," said fan Mike Anderson of Flagstaff, Ariz.

The College World Series attracts local fans, followers of the eight qualifying teams, and others who make the trek each June regardless of who's playing.

Alan Solarana of New York City has been coming to Omaha since 1996.

"You see the same people year after year at the games," Solarana said. "There's that sense of community."

Many feel holding the series in a different stadium, or a different city, wouldn't be the same.

"I'm a traditionalist," Solarana said. "I don't like to mess with tradition."

Attendance records are set almost every year at the 25,000-seat stadium. The Royals are talking about building a smaller facility, which may not fit the needs of the series.

Count fan Robbie Plunkett of Council Bluffs, Iowa, among those who doesn't buy the Royals' argument that Rosenblatt is outdated and needs to be replaced.

"This stadium is more than sufficient for what they need," he said. "This is a beautiful stadium."

Plunkett, who said he's been coming to the series for 15 years, said he doesn't think Rosenblatt or Omaha will ever be replaced as the home of the championship.

"It's neutral territory," he said.

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THE PITCHER DID IT

The College World Series is the backdrop of a murder-mystery novel being sold outside Rosenblatt Stadium by Larry Fangman, a high school English teacher.

The novel is called "The Cupid Killer." Fangman said he is a huge baseball fan and loves to write, so it was natural to use the series in one of his stories.

Fangman teaches at Wahoo High School, which is about 40 miles west of Omaha.

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DEDICATED DEDEAUX

Just try keeping 88-year-old Rod Dedeaux away from the College World Series.

Dedeaux spent 44 years as head coach of Southern California and won 10 championships before retiring in 1986. This week he was in Omaha as a fan, watching the games from the press box.

"Every time I come back it makes me feel great," he said. "To me, the CWS has always been a tremendous thrill."

He still holds CWS records for winning percentage (.789), games (76), victories (60) and titles (10).