[aklego]

I agree with just about everything you have to say and find the exclusion of FTC teams from the congressman's district during closing particularly appalling.

That said, I had a very different reaction to Dean's remarks during the FTC awards. I wish I could find a video of the ceremony because I thought it was the first time Dean has acknowledged that FTC is more than a stepping stone to FRC, that it is a complete program and achieves everything that FRC does at much less cost. My co-coach and I were pretty stunned when he was talking and we both commented on it after the fact.

I'll also echo Got Robot: The gap between FTC and FRC is closing. e.g. Dean's list now includes FTC.