[petek]

This year there are 63 teams registered for the week-one New Jersey regional, with a great lineup of veteran teams (totaling 343 years of experience!) and just four rookies. The caliber of teams that show up for this event is always great, as is the competition - except that there's usually only a handful that attempt autonomous on a regular basis.

I agree wholeheartedly with Wayne that Overdrive's Hybrid period makes scoring under robot control a very achievable goal for every team. With the number of veterans returning to NJ, most of whom are practicing strongly by lunchtime on Wednesday, there should be no excuse for any team to not at least make a lunge for the line!

So if you're one of those teams that has it together at lunch, instead of going home early, how about getting your scouts to pinpoint teams in need as Wayne suggests, and help them compete for the whole 2:15.

I'm sure that most events this year can boast equally strong fields and I hope all my fellow FTAs will join me in encouraging the NRLB initiative. When I walk through the pits in Trenton, Detroit and Philly I promise I'll be on the lookout for those in need and those who can help.