[Mark Hamilton]

We were broken several matches. We were constantly one step behind our breaking transmission. We at least showed up to all but one match (including using our dead robot to block team 79 from going under the bar in a match with 180, which they won for us ) . The worst feeling in the world is to let your alliance down. We worked nonstop to make all the matches we could. I seriously considered declining when team 212 picked us, but we felt they must want us if they were willing to pick us. I remember all the years we have been paired with alliances that didnt show or were just plain dead, and thinking pretty harshly of them. When the situation is reversed you realize how unfair you were to them. Broken robots are a fact of life, and it WILL happen to you. If you've got a match coming up with an ally that's broken, offer to help. If you can't help, try to find a way for them to help you, so they dont feel completely useless. Even if its just their human player taking advantage of the extra time they get to help build a stack.