[Sunshine]

Two more observations........
Many have complained about the lack of defense. We were delighted to see this. Why? Year after year we have created a competitive robot. But we do not have the facilities to produce what I would characterize as an industrial type robot that will hold up for years. A robot that could constantly take the punishment of a contact to contact defensive game without some type of breakage or failure. We envied those teams that could build a bot that withstood the punishment. This year our robot has had zero breakage or need for major repair (knock on wood) because of the lack of defense. No defense has benefitted our limitations in making a robot as robust as the elite teams.

Point two.......
Interesting that FIRST changed the rules ever so slightly for the world championship. Aliance captains pick 3 partners not 2. How many will overlook this or take it lightly. The field will not be that deep at the championship to select great bots. Again, the average or slightly below average team will be picked. You may say so what, they won't play anyways. But is that entirely true? We all know anything can happen and the 4th team selection could be a game changer. And what about that team that is below average and is sellected to the "super aliance". What kind of experience will they get making it to Einstein even if they do not get a chance to play. Only they can answer that question. They did something right to be selected and will deserve the blue banner and memories.

I just wish FIRST went one step further and required all aliances to use all aliance partners. That would have been an interesting game changer!