It's a little interesting to be the spectator at Palmetto for once. After waking up around 5:20 to get to Clemson in time, my girlfriend and I bore witness to some crazy matches (perhaps to match the crazy decor--orange and purple, really?
)
First, thanks to
Donn Griffith for completely blowing my cover this morning in the pits.
Big ups, of course, to our districtmates at
1398 on their second Chairman's win. They have figured something out. (When they were reading the award, Keenan had figured it out already. They were having to whack themselves with pillows to keep in check. Energetic much?)
Further ups to
386, 1758, 2483, 342, 343, and 804/393 for what may well be the most epic battle I've seen in five years in the finals. Whoever recorded the feed has to get this series on TBA; it was that intense from the stands.
Much respect to
anyone whose robot is still working. This year was living proof that the alliance that lasts the longest gets the gold.
Thanks, of course, to all the old friends I crossed paths with of varying geography. (If I was just here for the robots, I'd have watched the webcast. It's the people that get me to drive 250 miles in a day.)
A shout-out to
Looking Forward, who was in the building today if pit admin was to be believed. Hope you were impressed.
And, lastly, a pause for applause for
Mike Bryan of 342 who is moving up I-26 to the Upstate in the near future. Mike was their team leader from the start, and whatever he's done is working--year-in and year-out, 342 is a top-notch team. Upstate teams, I think it's now recruiting season.