2011 IRI

[Karthik]

A little late here, but the sentiment still applies...

Thanks to everyone who put together the 2011 IRI. The event was an amazing show from start to finish. The level of play was probably it's highest since 2007 or 2008, with so many teams bring their best efforts. Kudos to the IRI planning committee for making a couple of small rules tweaks that made the game substantially more interesting for both spectators and participants. By deflating the minibot scores and inflating the value of the bottom row of the rack, the last 30 seconds of the match became far more dynamic. It takes real courage to try and improve what was already a pretty good game, but once again the folks the IRI made it even better.

I want to give some special thanks to our alliance partners 987 and 67. This was our first chance we've ever had to work with 987 and I'm pretty sure all the Simbots are sick of listening to me talk about awesome these guys are. I've been in awe of your robots since your devastating machine in 2008. As for HOT, we got spoiled getting to work with you for two years in a row before the greats walls of Michigan of appeared. Having the chance to work with both of these amazing teams at the same time was a huge honour. Our strategy sessions were great and there was some definite on field chemistry between all three robots. All of us on 1114 are sick about how our miscues (radio resetting after the collision in SF1.1, and our first match of the entire season not scoring an ubertube in SF1.2, even worse putting the ubertube on the stupid net) cost us in the semis. We're sorry to have let you down, and will absolutely not let that happen the next time we have a chance to work together. Also, a shoutout to Team 1732, a team who easily should have been picked long before they came back to us. Seriously though, when you hear about an alliance of 1114, 987, 67 and 1732, doesn't that just sound like something out of a Fantasy FIRST draft? (Of course, basically every IRI alliance seemed that way this year)

Congratulations to the winning alliance of 33, 2056, 217 and 359. We knew we had to be absolutely perfect to beat an alliance as stacked as yours. Short story, we weren't perfect and you were. You guys had a well deserved victory. A special mention goes out to 2056. These guys had the worst possible luck at Championship this year, where they definitely deserved a better outcome. It was great to see them earn a well deserved win at IRI, and make a statement to all those out there who ridiculously called them "overrated".

Back to the insanity of IRI. 67 and 217 were second round picks? We're talking about arguably the two most dominant teams in FIRST since 2005! Phenomenal.

Finally thanks to everyone who bid on our elevator at the charity auction. We're very proud to have raised $450 for the IRI charities with the donation.

Looking forward to seeing everyone again next year!