The Rest Of The Best

[Tetraman]

174 is 26-8-0 this year and we haven't qualified for Champs. Do I believe we should have qualified due to our win/loss record or our status as a 5th seed at FLR? No. As much as I want FIRST champs to be about the best-of-the-best robots of the year, I don't think that it fits in FIRST's ideals. You either qualify though one of the awards, though your victories or when it's your due time on the waiting list. What makes FIRST different and better than traditional sports teams is only the best of the year have the shot at the national title, whereas in FIRST all teams can have a Championship moment at some point.

Not to disrespect the original 32, but I don't think that's a good enough reasoning for an automatic qualifier now that we have surpassed 20 years of FIRST. I agree that should go, but not upset it exists. And I think that allowing previous winners to return could also be dropped. Want to win back-to-back Championships? Earn it.