[nparikh]

Wow, it seems that this thread is spreading into so many different directions that I don't really know which issue to respond to. I just wanted to note on something brought up earlier; the punishments. I don't think that we can have concrete punishments for something like cheating. I agree with Mike in that the circumstances and the extent to which the cheating occurs matters. If we always give out the same punishment to all cheaters is that really fair? Like what was said before; is a rookie team putting ties on worn down tires as bad as a team who purposely and knowingly does something like bringing in a new robot for competition? Not to say that a team is bad, but the extent of what has happened is completely different. My suggestion to FIRST is why not form some kind of "official" board that handles it all on a case by case basis; and after reviewing the facts, makes a decision. That way, appropriate punishment, in my belief, is delivered.