[Aignam]

MOE sticks and noisemakers and noise and loudness and clappers and bullhorns and bells and whistles and so on and so forth are some of the defining elements of a FIRST competition, for me, anyways. This rule was made with nothing but good intentions, but I think it is just a tad bit ridiculous. I had no problem with hearing the announcer at the Chesapeake Regional, the New Jersey Regional, or Nationals.

There's no doubt in my mind that FIRST teams out there will "leave their noisemakers at home and honor FIRST's desire". I know FIRST teams will be able to show their spirit even through this rule. But I also think that perhaps this rule was overboard.