[Jason Morrella]

Very well said jrukes, I agree 100%.

I really don't think people should be wasting energy talking about teams "throwing the finals" at a regional. I now many FIRST teams personally, and can't imagine ANY team, qualified or not, making the finals of a regional and not giving their best effort. First and foremost, teams have pride and want to be the best. Second, teams have a responsibility to their alliance partners. Third, I don't know of any team who would want to be known as "the team that threw a regional". This is not an issue, as no team would ever throw a regional final.

Also - energy should be aimed at "tweaking/fixing" a few aspects of the qualifying. The Nationals COULD NOT be open to all teams. That is a fact and a reality which everyone knew was coming. It might not be the "idealistic" situation, but it is the "realistic" solution. You don't see the NCAA letting 600 teams into the National Championship each year. All teams get to play in their conferences (regionals) and then the winners or top qualifiers go onto the National. Is the system perfect? No. Can it be slightly adjusted to be a little more consistent & fair? Yes. But limits are reality and there is nothing FIRST could do about it - so let's be somewhat less angry, and help them create the best system possible.

Regarding the 6-8 existing teams from 1992 who are automatically in (it's not 28 teams like many seem to think)-personally, I completely disagree with that special exception. I agree 100% that Chairman's Award winners deserve lifetime entry, but not 1992 teams. The origional teams already have the inherent advantage of having more experience than all other teams and the gained/earned knowledge that comes with it. They don't need any additional advantage.

That said, I know a few of those teams well and have the utmost respect for them. Anyone who thinks or would even suggest that those 6-8 teams would "throw" a regional final is nuts. Those teams have the utmost integrity, put a great deal of work into their robots each year, take a great deal of pride in their performance each year, and want to be the best. They have the same right as every other team to be recognized as a regional champion if they can get that far.
Personally, I doubt if the majority of those teams even want the special treatment of the "1992" clause or the stigma that comes with the rule, and probably are asking FIRST to cancel that part of the new qualifying system.


As usual, all new announcments create emotion, but the FIRST teams always adjust, always have a great experience, and normally look back at the end of the year and realize FIRST made decisions which were better than most origionally thought.

Oh well - there's my 3 cents. Interested to see what many think.

Jason