[Billfred]

John's posted his bit, I'mma post mine too.

This is my eleventh season in FRC. Ignoring a season of hapless rookie status, I've known that the Florida (and later, the Orlando) Regional is the hardest regional in the South. For nine years, I've campaigned to varying levels of intensity with my past teams to get them to get them to come down and see how we'd stack up. This year with 4901, the planets aligned (read: John and I agreed it was a good idea, and we're the main and alternate contacts) and we finally got a chance to see what would happen if we took a robot down. Never did I think it'd work out THIS well!

First off, thank you 1592 and 180. I've seen 1592 from their rookie year and seen them develop into a force in the state that gives teams with numbers a thousand lower fits. My love of SPAM is well-documented--it was their 2004 robot that first really got me hooked on FIRST, and I was with 2815 when SPAM picked them and won Palmetto together in 2011. After the total disappointment of Palmetto, it was fantastic to play Aerial Assist with two top-notch partners.

Congrats to 179, 1251, and 79 on a hard-fought finals. We encountered all three of you (and in the same match, at that--with Tech Tigers against Swamp Thing and Krunch in Q79), and we knew firsthand just how hard-nosed the play was going to be. Add in that I've got friends associated with all three teams (and a slightly longer history with 1251 after Palmetto 2007), and it was a nail-biter all around.

Tip of the hat to 233, 624, and 1902 as well. I've dealt with all three teams over the years, and their reputation is sterling. I only have what I've read here and what I saw on the RoboShow for information, but I can only believe it was a snap decision (as almost all after-alliance-selection decisions are) that just didn't get fully vetted. I'm glad that 233 and 1902 have another event ahead of them to punch their tickets to St. Louis, and I have full confidence that they will.

Thank you to all the volunteers and workers at the regional. Aside from the fact that many old friends were working the event (and I appreciated catching up with all of you!), this event was run really, really well. Hopefully 4901 can make the return trip again next year!

...but first, someone got $5,000 lying around?