Re: 2010 Palmetto Regional
 

Alright, I've mostly recovered from Palmetto now. My roughly-annual list of thank-yous and shout-outs:

1379: We were slugging it out with them and 343 for the number one seed, and were more than happy to join up with them for the elimination rounds. The team kept their cool (probably better than I could) even through four grueling quarterfinal rounds, ran hard, and left all out on the field. Can't ask for anything more (and I love that topper).

1293: My history with 1293 is no real secret (it goes back to the very first meeting in Dutch Fork High's auditorium), and I've rooted for them for seven straight years even as I played for other teams (Q18 notwithstanding). Through all the little mechanical snags of eliminations, these guys would not quit. Much as I wish we could've taken the gold, I'm glad we had the chance to play together in the dance.

1915: These guys were the first backup team, and we were in close contact with them as 1293 fought their gremlins (including helping them switch to their red bumpers, which used a really trick system I may have to steal myself). Through the ups and downs of having a shot at getting in the show after all, these guys were prepared and at the ready. I hope they make the return trip next year!

The DJ: I don't know who it was this year, but the DJ this year was quite possibly the best DJ I've encountered in seven years of FRC events. Perfect mix of music, and he worked in several team-related tracks (up to, and including, 2001 and USC's fight song--in our archrival's home arena!)

J Dew, our emcee: Color me impressed with his rookie outing as master of ceremonies. Aside from giving 1319 a bit of a shock over Engineering Inspiration (he announced 1329), he did a great job. Keep it up!

All the Clemson staff: Even with all of our Gamecocks chanting and occasional reference to last fall's football game, I never encountered anybody who was anything short of helpful and courteous.

FIRST President Paul Gudonis for joining us for dinner. It was an honor to have you join some of us to talk about our incubator plan, team planning, and a little bit of Team Update 16 appreciation.

The Dean family on 2430 for what might just be the first father-son WFFA/Dean's List Finalist pairing.

All the volunteers: Can't happen without y'all.

Last but not least:

1398: It's been an interesting six months working alongside the Robo-Raiders. They were down on mentors this year and sought us out to help with the robot side of things. Through the build season, us on Los Pollos Locos have met an outstanding group of people. These kids are not afraid to work hard, whether on their robot or ours, and are snappy dancers to boot. Even in the face of numerous issues over the regional (two red cards, a malfunctioning cRIO, a blown-out bearing in the transmission), a flurry of navy blue shirts (and the occasional garnet one) worked together to keep everything running well. I've loved working with them this year, and if it wasn't going to be us that wasn't hanging a banner, I'm sure as hell glad it was them.

2815's done for the season now, but this has been an amazing regional!

Re: 2010 Palmetto Regional
 

Another fun regional. Thank you all for a great time!

I've never seen quite the dog fight for #1 seed so thanks for keeping it interesting.

1398, 343, 3025, 281, 1772, 1261 1379, 49 are all great teams that stick out in my mind at the moment so thanks for the great competition.

On a personal note to team 1398, watching you all make the transition from potentially shutting the team down to visiting the finals for the first time ever and winning to boot has been just awesome. I can't wait to see you all in Atlanta.

3529: 1398/2815 have set the bar awfully high for you in North Carolina so good luck next week. The near position is your friend, good luck to goalie bots in North Carolina. :)

By the way did anyone record this event?

Re: 2010 Palmetto Regional
 

Stephen -- i know that the entire regional was webcasted, so i'm sure it's out there somewhere.
We also taped all of our team's matches, so if you want anything in particular, feel free to ask! :)

Re: 2010 Palmetto Regional
 

I'd like to say that this has been the best regional we've ever attended while I've been a part of the team, and that's not just because we were seeded 2nd and ended up semifinalists. It was a very well run event start to finish and knowing what it takes behind the scenes to pull one of these off, major congratulations to the Palmetto planning committee and all of their volunteers.

Especially MC, J Dew, Game Announcer Barry Hudson and the DJ, whose name I never got, all of whom stepped it up several notches when things were most likely to come undone. It's hard to believe J Dew is a first year FIRST MC.

Special props to our fellow Georgia teams, 1261 and 2974 for doing so well. We all made it into elims and showed pretty well I think. 1261 also joined our scouting combine. We hope to work with you more in the future.

I'd also like to call out to the other team staying in our hotel, 3270. Highest rookie seed and Rookie Inspiration winner. I hope our antics didn't keep you from sleeping. We enjoyed talking and working with you at the arena and at our home away from home. We were sad to have to meet you in quarterfinals.

Of course, extra thanks to our alliance partners, 2815 and 1293, for hanging in there when in match after match, it seemed as if we were trying to display a compete list of everything that could possibly go wrong. In true FIRST spirit, you never gave up. I hope we get a chance to partner again.

Congratulations to 343, 1261 and 1398 for taking the banner. You earned it. See you all at championships.

Re: 2010 Palmetto Regional
 

Yes agreed with Brazil :D it was some heck of a reigonal.

Sorry Tony wasn't much help in picking he couldn't understand what you guys ment though i think you guys had our scouters anyway i'm not sure lol. Yeah Defence was the main factor in us being picked had Brazil not picked us I talked to 343 they were next in line to.

It was great playing with you guys, funny how i was talking to the captain of sparks the day before.

Everyone was happy, we knew that when we got to the finals it would be the hardest battle of all. Though once Sparks was knocked over in Finals 3 we knew we were finished. In a small way we are relieved already having 3 FTC teams in World adding the FRC team would be a little hard.

Props to the RoboLions, and RoboRaiders the double teaming offence really paid off we really couln't keep up.

Re: 2010 Palmetto Regional
 

And yeah Barry's right they stayed with us last year. Which btw COME BACK!!!! We need more random things to do!! :D

Re: 2010 Palmetto Regional
 

Every other year we seem to come up with a regional win. This being an even number year, we were hoping to keep the streak alive. Once I looked at the competition in Clemson, I had my doubts. Being week 4, Palmetto had some robots that were able to step it up and get some prior regional bugs worked out. A big thanks to 1261 and 1398.
When we jumped to the #1 seed, I thought for sure 2815 or 1379 were going to jump us in the end.
With the yellow cards 343 kept getting in the eliminations I'm sure our partners had their doubts, but things worked out.
I don't like excusses, but I'll give a little insight into what happened. When we flipped 804 in the quarter finals, we were having radio issues. The Anderson newspaper took a picture that caught that moment (attached). Chris was trying to drive on a 2+ second delay. By the time he got into 804, and tried to back out it was too late:o Sorry.
The hit that 2751 took in the first final match was 343 trying to line up to a ball and backing into them. Again, sorry.

Also as soon as I heard saw what 342 had done for the RCA I knew we were beat. Congratulations:D
Next stop Atlanta.

Re: 2010 Palmetto Regional
 

BillFred and others wrote
The DJ: I don't know who it was this year, but the DJ this year was quite possibly the best DJ I've encountered in seven years of FRC events. Perfect mix of music, and he worked in several team-related tracks (up to, and including, 2001 and USC's fight song--in our archrival's home arena!)

J Dew, our emcee: Color me impressed with his rookie outing as master of ceremonies. Aside from giving 1319 a bit of a shock over Engineering Inspiration (he announced 1329), he did a great job. Keep it up!

------------------------

The same DJ has been with us for 5 years. It is a father-son team from Columbia. We anticipated the delays and he had some great suggestions including the fight songs and the "Don't Stop Believing" sing-along. When teams put song references on their Trivia Sheets we try to work them in.

Playing 2001 during a match is a Palmetto tradition I started 3 years ago to allow us to just watch the robots "dance" w/o any narration. I hoped it would work well when we had 3 elevating robots rising up in the last seconds, and it was awesome (if I may say so myself).

The committee lost a little sleep over having a Rookie MC, but he is a pro (he MC's for the Greenville Drive baseball and Clemson Basketball) and kept telling us "this is what I do". And boy he really did it! He studied the game and came in early for practice rounds. Now that he has caught the FIRST bug, he'll be back. (And I am so glad he can dance).

Re: 2010 Palmetto Regional
 

Billfred-- It was a pleasure competing with you this weekend. Thanks for all of your help and the help of 2815 in dealing with our mechanical problems throughout the elimination rounds. Also, thanks for your moral support throughout the matches, "never give up hope". Once again it was great working with you and 2815 and I'll see you around.

Re: 2010 Palmetto Regional
 

Holy Crap, that's picture is funny.

I'm guessing it's a roar of extreme frustration. I honestly didn't mind playing that first quarter finals, it was a real challenge, and I kinda enjoyed it, but I knew right away that if 343 couldn't figure it out then we wouldn't stand a chance.

And honestly, I don't blame anyone for the 2571 flipping. I had a half a mind to ram then in the side at the beginning of the match. And I didn't even notice that a robot had flipped in the first quarter finals match...I guess that's what I get for focus.

EDIT: That pictures screams caption contest...very literally.

Re: 2010 Palmetto Regional
 

well... that would be interesting... considering i know what i actually said... and it wasn't very family friendly :rolleyes:

Re: 2010 Palmetto Regional
 

My best guess is that this was taken the round 1102 rammed you while you were hanging.

Re: 2010 Palmetto Regional
 

Call me strange, but the second 1102 went into the tunnel, I knew we would win cause there was no way they could go through without hitting 343. But it wouldn't have mattered, we were leading the match anyways. :P

Re: 2010 Palmetto Regional
 

Are you talking about the ram in the Qualifiers? B/C the ram in the Finals was pure accident. Our driver completely forgot about the tunnel. being part of the tower >.<

Re: 2010 Palmetto Regional
 

I know what you mean, we did some ramming ourselves. Sorry again 804 and 2751.