[archiver]

Posted by Dave Carter at 03/05/2001 3:55 AM EST


Other on team #131, C.H.A.O.S. alumni, from University of New Hampshire and Osram Sylvania and Fleet Bank.


In Reply to: chief delphi lying, eh?
Posted by Mita on 03/05/2001 1:41 AM EST:



At the UTC New England regional this past weekend, I made a joke with a few of my FIRST friends that I probably read the Chief Delphi message board more than anyone, I just do it anonymously. Well, I've finally decided to break my silence (I usually don't have time to post.), unfortunately, I'm doing it to help correct a huge misconception created from a whirl wind of ignorance in form of a post by a member of my team.

I have been a member of C.H.A.O.S. now for 3 years (2 years as student coaching/driving/human player) and this year traveling back and forth from UNH to weekend meetings and heading up scouting at the NE regional. Over the past few years, I have seen what it means to be a member of 131.

Myself, along with many students (past and present), engineers (past and present), and one single faculty advisor (the beloved Dave Kelso) have spent almost 10 years building the reputation of this team and building friendships around the FIRST community.

After coming home at 1:30 on an early Monday morning, (praying for a snow day, mind you.) I routinely checked the Chief Delphi board for any more feedback in regards to the regionals from this past weekend. I was appalled to see a post, from a rookie member of my team, that displayed an ignorance strong enough to tarnish the reputation that all those students, engineers, and faculty members (once again, namely Kelso) have been building on now for almost 10 years.

As someone who has been there, and knows many of the New Englanders that post on this board, let my assure that those opinions DO NOT reflect the feelings the C.H.A.O.S. has for Chief Delphi (47), or the Aztechs (157).

Take it from someone who has been up there before, we have nothing but respect and admiration for Chief Delphi. Year in and year out, #47 demonstrates a quality that sets the standard for all teams to strive to achieve. Thursday morning, my good friend (and C.H.A.O.S. coach) Steve Smith and I talked with Dr. Joe Johnson and scouted the CD machine. As always, we were extremely impressed with the design and overall beauty in engineering of your machine. Throughout the weekend, your team's spirit was stellar and your students handled themselves in the classy fashion that has been associated with Chief Delphi for a number of years now. Each season, you not only produce a championship calibur machine, but you demonstrate the championship calibur attitude of gracious professionalism that F.I.R.S.T. demands of all participants. It was a true honor to be partnered with Chief this past weekend at the New England regional. Thank you.

As for the Aztechs, the same applies to your team. Over the past few years.. 131 has developed a strong relationship based on respect and admiration for the Aztechs. You did not "trick" us. For anyone to believe that is absolutely absurd. The truth is, they picked us. Without the Aztechs, we might not have made the playoffs. For that, we thank them. I hope that Mike F. of the Aztechs knows that people like Steve, myself, Keith Liadis (former driver), Dave Kelso, and others that have gotten to know you, your team, and become acustomed to the excellence you display each and every year that the derogatory opinions that have been posted in no way reflect that of C.H.A.O.S... especially those who know you and have been there with you before.


I sincerely apologize for myself and on behalf of C.H.A.O.S. It's rather disheartening that a single paragraph of ignorance can tarnish a reputation that has been nearly 10 years in the making. This is an absolute embarassment and BY NO MEANS, reflects the thoughts and opinions of Team 131. Like I said, take it from someone who has been there, we have nothing but respect and admiration for CD and the Aztechs... and for every other partcipant in FIRST.. rookie or veteran.

Thank you Aztechs for being gracious enough to draft us this weekend. Thank you Chief Delphi for being wonderful and enthusiastic partners.

C.H.A.O.S. has always had a lot of anonymous CD message board readers. It's unfortunate that one of the few posts we make is based on such ignorance. This does not reflect the intelligence displayed by the majority of our students.

New England was a blast, I couldn't have spent my birthday (which was Saturday, the big 19) in a place I love more, the regionals.

Good luck to everyone in upcoming regionals... And Nationals (Wish I could be there.)

Thank you,
We're sincerely sorry
And I hope this sets the record straight.

- Carter