[Jessica Boucher]

#1 seed is great, but anywhere in the top 8 looks good to any team not in the top 8, because it gives them a reason to care about the finals. It is not yet a general assumption that teams care about the finals because of other teams' involvement. It is a growing trend, but it can not be generally accepted at this time.

Plus, previous years lead me to believe that match throwing will not be an issue. At the regional level in 2004...Joe Ross calculated that the most matches a team could lose on average and still make it into the top 8 is 2 (I can't seem to find the 2005 thread for the life of me). Although this varies by regional in terms of number of matches allowed as well as the makeup of teams present, there is too much risk involved (and not enough time to calculate it certainly) for this to be a huge issue.

I encourage you to look at it from a spectator's perspective (which some of you have already), as opposed to a team perspective. FIRST thrives as an organization when the competition is exciting. Elimination matches are more exciting when there is a more equal matchup of teams.

I am excited to the actual affect that this rule will have, both at the regional level and the national level.