Words from a team least likely to have made a run to Einstein

[Metalcrafters]

I had the chance to view the champs from a different view this year; a view that most of us strive for just because this is a competition, we had a view from the field and not the stands. I will admit it changed my view in many different ways.

After a few months of coming off another robotics season (13) I am still at odds with my feelings. I am not sure if my feelings are negative but these feeling are definitely different from previous years.

I will start by saying that our robot did not “win” our way to the champs this year. We felt we earned a spot as a “team” with an award that we worked hard and long for. We ranked in LA on the bottom end of the spectrum as far as our robot. Our Robot was not much different than most of OUR other robots, it worked, it took a beating and it worked a little better.

Knowing that the champs represent all aspects of the world we made a mental decision to change our game. We wanted to become a competitive team on the field all knowing that much of the field is luck. We wanted to control the luck as much as possible so we focused on reliability and ability. We became a feeder bot regardless of a win or loss. This was in hopes of being a solid third bot on an alliance.

I need to say thank you to our alliance partners for offering a great ride. 233 & 987 are stellar teams and build amazing machines. It felt good to go out on the floor with such power houses, having only been in the division finals a few times prior I still consider us rookies. There was a great deal to be gained from sitting behind the field watching everyone work in a fury. Our division finals were hard fought at every match. It felt like a true showing of finals. Winning Curie, was and is a high for our team and my career with in FRC. It truly was a banner year for us.

Just making it to Einstein! We were part of the “Final 12,” What a feeling! What a view! Looking up and realizing that we were sitting on the floor waiting for our match to queue, we all witnessed what happened form here on out, all of us with a different view. Some of the final 12 might have felt confused, might have felt robbed, might have felt lucky, and might have felt excited, just like everyone in the stands.

There was a winner and the winner stands! So Congrats to TEAMS 16, 25 and 180 the 2012 World Champions.

I will fast forward to the report. I honestly do not understand all that has been written, but it was an honor that our team was asked to participate in the investigation. I am not sure I am qualified enough to speak about FIRST’s reaction to the issues found. It looks as if FIRST is doing the right thing but then again, it’s “my view.”

I find it hard to feel like our team was robbed, when you cannot rob of us something we never had. It was just a chance to play, to win or to lose. It would be nice to have a banner to mark the occasion because it was a unique occasion, one that we all hope will never repeat itself again!
The FINAL 12 of 2012

Thanks for letting me express our feelings. Now where is that game hint? Before we know it! It will start all over again! See ya next year!

Rolling Pink Metal

Lucas