F.I.R.S.T. PROUD

[mwibbels]

Originally Posted by Rainydaymaker

They should be very proud of what they accomplished. Their robot was able to double balance, and a chute allowed their robot to feed 2 additional balls to the Tators (2122). This resulted in a solid 36 autonomous points for their alliance.

Good Luck Bulldogs!

As a member of the winning alliance, we agree that the 4082 guys should be proud of their performance - they were SOLID and executed their role in the alliance strategy a lot closer to perfection than we did . Their driving and ability to balance allowed us to get up on the bridge with them quickly and reliably ... enabling us to shoot balls as long as there were balls available in our offensive half of the field, and then to finally leave Skunkworks as the last red alliance member on the floor to play D or score more balls as needed.

We failed with a similar strategy with another very good partner (399) in Utah this year, and spent a good bit of time between weeks 3 and 6 trying to figure out how to make our partners more successful and to avoid a similar loss in Spokane. After mulling on it (alright obsessing about it ) we figured out that we needed to adapt to be a better partner and then to try to find a team that was willing to adapt to work with us. From our first interactions, the 4082 crew was great to work with and it was easy to see the character of the team. When we played with them in qualifications, they immediately embraced the opportunity to make our alliance better. As a result, they were on the Tator/Skunkworks short list during alliance selections. In the end, 4082 contributions enabled our alliance to succeed at the Spokane regional - we wouldn't have made it without them - as the missed double balance in SF2 and the resulting loss illustrates. Thank you 4082 for being a great part of our alliance!

[Bob Steele]

Originally Posted by mwibbels

As a member of the winning alliance, we agree that the 4082 guys should be proud of their performance - they were SOLID and executed their role in the alliance strategy a lot closer to perfection than we did . Their driving and ability to balance allowed us to get up on the bridge with them quickly and reliably ... enabling us to shoot balls as long as there were balls available in our offensive half of the field, and then to finally leave Skunkworks as the last red alliance member on the floor to play D or score more balls as needed.

We failed with a similar strategy with another very good partner (399) in Utah this year, and spent a good bit of time between weeks 3 and 6 trying to figure out how to make our partners more successful and to avoid a similar loss in Spokane. After mulling on it (alright obsessing about it ) we figured out that we needed to adapt to be a better partner and then to try to find a team that was willing to adapt to work with us. From our first interactions, the 4082 crew was great to work with and it was easy to see the character of the team. When we played with them in qualifications, they immediately embraced the opportunity to make our alliance better. As a result, they were on the Tator/Skunkworks short list during alliance selections. In the end, 4082 contributions enabled our alliance to succeed at the Spokane regional - we wouldn't have made it without them - as the missed double balance in SF2 and the resulting loss illustrates. Thank you 4082 for being a great part of our alliance!

I want to second what the Tators mentioned. The Bulldogs were great to work with and we are very happy that they will be traveling to St. Louis and competing there. We are saddened only by the fact that they won't be in our division. They executed everything that was asked of them and without them as an alliance partner, the Tators and Skunks would never have been able to pull off the regional championship!

thank you Bull Dogs!!

And to the Tators... We are extremely happy that you guys are finally on the same field with us in CMP. Maybe this could be OUR year together on the Big field too!! We are looking forward to seeing you again and playing with and/or against you on Newton!!

Thank you for having faith in our team and for being such an excellent partner in Spokane. You guys are the best!!

[Akash Rastogi]

What an awesome story.

Two thumbs way up for all teams involved in this.

[nsrouji95]

Wow, this is a truly inspiring experience. It is things like that that make me proud to be a part of FIRST.

Great job to those teams, way to show that Gracious Professionalism!

[kgargiulo]

This thread is a bit stale, but I'll post a follow up from St. Louis anyway because it tracks this topic so well.

We (4143) happened to be pitted next to 4082 in St. Louis. At the time we didn't know any of the history that's in this thread, we were just impressed at a rookie team of four able to build a robot and get themselves to St. Louis. Being a rookie team with the blessing of a lot more support we really felt the work and dedication those four students showed. It is impossible not to have a great deal of respect for any team that prevails under those circumstances.

When qualifying ended guess who was high seed rookie? That's right, 4082 at 12 or 13 (I forget). The FIRST spirit was definitely alive and well getting them there, most prominently from 1108 helping them get their bot into shape to play a great defensive role on alliances, so kudos to 1108 on extending a long history of helping others.

We realized that four picks within the top 8 meant that 4082 would have been an alliance lead and that with only four team members they probably had zero scouting data (which was true). Imagine being on the floor with the mic in your hand and having absolutely nothing on which to make a selection. Some of our students dropped their work and walked next door to unload all of our data on them, work up a selection list, and stayed with them during selections. 4082 was extremely grateful and gracious.

This isn't meant to be self-congratulatory, I'm just telling the story. The focus of this post should be on 4082 and 1108. Also not intending to slight any other team who helped 4082. I'm sure there were others.

If anyone knows how to get a hold of 4082 I'd like to follow up with them. I've found zero contact info in any database or web search that I've been able to run.

[mwmac]

If anyone knows how to get a hold of 4082 I'd like to follow up with them. I've found zero contact info in any database or web search that I've been able to run.

Shoot me a pm...Team Tators has their contact info...(I just parked our trailer after a long pull home).

[popnbrown]

This is why I'm in FIRST and not many other robotics competition. "It's not about the robot"