[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by Joe Johnson

I can hear myself saying the words to my Rookies:

"It doesn't matter what Cheesy Poofs can build in 45 days, or Thunder Chickens, or Swamp Thing, or Miss Daisy, or WildStang, or CHAOS, or Beatty, or Buzz, or Pink, or ANYONE ELSE can build in 45 days...

...it only matters what WE can build... ...in 45 days... ...because that is the only option available to us."

Joe,
What makes you think we're finished building? We have a proto that moved onto the bridge last night. We think we see a light at the end of the tunnel but it could be that fatigue is putting up spots before our eyes. I will know more by tomorrow night I hope!

The reality here is you can prototype between stop build and your regional. Plan on what you can bring to manufacture and work like crazy on the practice day. I bet everyone of those teams you mentioned has taken their robot apart on the the practice day at least once having figured out that some parts won't work the way the game is played or the functionality is not needed due to a different strategy.