[Kit Gerhart]

Originally Posted by Wetzel

Where in the rules does it say that you can decline and still participate? It is not addressed in the rules at all. As I understand it, there will be an update addressing this early next week.

Wetzel

When the rule discussed in this thread first went into effect a few years ago, it was described in detail at the kickoff. It was made clear that if you declined, you could not accept another invitation but you could make your own selection if in the top 8. It appears that Woodie, Dean, et. al. felt that the process was well enough known that there was no need to repeat it. Unfortunately, the people running the selection process at Peachtree and VCU were not as well informed as many of the team members.

I don't know if it is good or bad that I wasn't at Peachtree, but if I'd been there, I would have made a bit of a "scene" as I ran out on the playing field and informed anyone within earshot that a team cannot accept an invitation after previously declining. I only wish the mistake had been discovered before it was too late to redo the alliance selection. This uncorrected mistake is going to be remembered for a long time by we FIRST addicts.

This is a little off-topic, and on a lighter note, but CONGRATULATIONS to team 801 and partners. You guys have had some less-than-great years recently, and it was great to see you win.