Old FIRST (and US FIRST) videos posted on Youtube

[Andy Baker]

While making a presentation a couple of nights ago, I had to digitize some archived video. While doing this, I ran across some gems and decided to upload them to Youtube. You all may get a kick out of some of these.

1. 1992 Maize Craze final match
Clinton Nypro (now 126) vs WPI (now 190) vs Wheeling HS (now part of 111) vs Delco & Kokomo HS (now 45)

2. 1993 Ruge Rage match
I don't know who is all in this match, but the low-profile aluminum bot with the removable cage for balls is Kokomo's.

3. 1994 Final Match
Here is a bit of ESPN's coverage of the 1994 Championships. This is final match #1. Sunny Delight goes on to win match 2.

4. 1995 US FIRST Promotional video
Veterans - look for Mike Bastoni and John Viltro in this one. There are some great quotes from Dean in here regarding why engineers and mentors are key resources to FIRST teams.

5. 1996 ESPN Coverage
part1 part2 part3 part4 part5
Outstanding coverage by ESPN.

6. 1997 Final match between ChiefDelphi (now 47) and Beatty Hammond (now 71).

7. 1998 Semi-final match between TechnoKats (45) and HOT (67). This was a clip from the ESPN coverage. You may recognize both coaches on the TechnoKats.

8. Here is a clip from a 1999 documentary involving the TechnoKats (45). Robot to robot action was brutal that year.

9. Here is a 2000 Championship Quarterfinal match where 126 and 131 pulls off a big upset to beat 47 and 312. Notice 47's basket breaking right at the end. Notice a few robot drivers who are still around today.

10. This is the legendary "710 match" from the 2001 Midwest Regional finals. I recognize a few drivers in this match too.

11. 2002 Semi-final match from the Championships. Notice that team 60 has the advantage early in the match, but then 71 inches their way to the right zone over the next 70-80 seconds. 66 knew how to help 71, but 60 and 144 had no choice, even with 500 pounds weighing down team 60. Amazing.

12. 2003 Semifinal match from the Championships. This was the first year of auto-mode. Notice what 111's robot does. Yes, they knocked down all of their opponent's stacked totes and then climbed the ramp in auto.

13. Dr. Woodie Flowers give his best shot here of describing the 2003 game, Stack Attack. If you hear this once, and you understand it totally, give yourself a cookie.

14. 2004 Quarterfinals at Midwest Regional. 93 thought they had 45's robot blocked. This is what a roller claw will do.

15. Ken Patton interview from 1997 (Ken looks like he is 20!)

16. Joe Johnson interview from 1997

17. Chuck Yeager speech from 2003 Championships

I will post more soon.

Enjoy!
Andy

[waialua359]

Great post!!!
We need more of these.

[AdamHeard]

I.... I... I think I love you


and, the espn coverage was really awesome. I remember watching it as a kid.

[Greg Needel]

these are great, thanks andy!

[Wetzel]

Andy, great footage! Thanks for sharing.

Wetzel

[Jessica Boucher]

Thanks, Baker. Still on the lookout for "Build more robots so I can play with my kids", though!

[Andy Baker]

Originally Posted by Jessica Boucher

Thanks, Baker. Still on the lookout for "Build more robots so I can play with my kids", though!

Is this the Will Smith quote from 2004? Was that the year? If so, I don't have it. We stopped recording the production feed in 2004.

Andy

[Elgin Clock]

I have a (very short) video from Rumble At The Rock I need to capture one of these days. I actually have all the hardware to do it finally!
Maybe in November when I can actually sit down at home for more than an hour at a time I can get that done & uploaded.

I'm sure the FIRST community would appreciate that footage of the first offseason competition!

Oh how far we've come since then.

[Greg Needel]

Originally Posted by Jessica Boucher

Thanks, Baker. Still on the lookout for "Build more robots so I can play with my kids", though!

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

Is this the Will Smith quote from 2004? Was that the year? If so, I don't have it. We stopped recording the production feed in 2004.

Andy

you mean this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZiYGYBWIFA

[Akash Rastogi]

Why is there no longer any ESPN coverage?

I remember hearing something about why there wasn't any CNN coverage this year, is this the same case as ESPN?

Awesome videos, really enjoyed watching them.

[XaulZan11]

Originally Posted by lilstogi11

Why is there no longer any ESPN coverage?

I'm sure someone here knows, but has ESPN covered it after the championship left Disney? If not, them I'm sure that had to with it.

[Andy Baker]

Originally Posted by lilstogi11

Why is there no longer any ESPN coverage?

1998 was the last year that FIRST was covered by ESPN.

I really don't know why it stopped for sure. However, I will make a guess. Like many other tough decisions, it was probably about the money.

In 1999, FIRST asked about 20-30 teams to supply video footage so they can put together a documentary. A documentary producer ended up creating a 30 minute video that was very good. When FIRST went to ESPN to get the video aired, ESPN pushed back and wanted to blur out the corporate sponsor logos on the robots, flags, t-shirts, and such. Essentially, ESPN did not want to help advertise for these companies without being paid.

I didn't understand this at the time, and still don't quite understand it. Of course, sporting events have all kinds of corporate sponsors, and each one of them can't be paying ESPN. However, there is a high dollar contract with each sporting administration to pay ESPN for the coverage.

I suppose that FIRST could not afford this same sort of payment for a contract.

That's my best guess.

Andy

[synth3tk]

lol! I just watched Woodie Flowers explaining the 2003 game! I'm still lost...

Thanks for the uploads, though. Very fun to see FIRST in it's early years. I especially enjoyed the ESPN coverage. I really hope they decide to do it again.

[galewind]

I'm glad you made this thread.

I'm looking for a video that koko ed posted back from a 2004 off-season where a robot flipped over another to hang and swing from the ball.
Ed, are you out there? Can you help me?!

[Stephen Kowski]

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

9. Here is a 2000 Championship Quarterfinal match where 126 and 131 pulls off a big upset to beat 47 and 312. Notice 47's basket breaking right at the end. Notice a few robot drivers who are still around today.

....ugh of all the 2000 yr clips.....thx andy