Backup allies.

[XaulZan11]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

Being a lead que I have had to secure the backup teams. The most teams I have burned through was five at the 2012 Alamo regional. One was no where to be found and the other turned down the invitation. I have had teams openly turn down the role before. Most notably at the 2011 Midwest regional. A rookie team was the first backup and one of the robots on the opposing alliance to 111 ( I knew they were going to be World Champions the first second I saw them crush 1732 and 1625 in a match practically by themselves) so I went to go retrieve them. The team mostly consisted of a student and a teacher. A student from 1732 helped finish their robot. When I approached them to have them come to the field they declined immediately and packed up quickly. I remember telling Bill Miller who said "They can't leave!". I thought what are we going to do, Kick 'em out? I found the next backup who showed up, got stomped with their partners and got a nice shiny silver medal for their efforts.

I could be getting my years mixed up, but I believe that team did not have enough students to fill their drive team so students from 111 and 1732 (and maybe others) and filled out their drive team. I think they planned to decline being an alliance captain as it would have been very weird situation with having other teams be on their drive team, many of which were in the elimination matches. I am pretty sure that is why they declined being a backup.

The backup who did come in, 3197, did a very good job at pushing the tubes in the loading zones. But, 111 was too good that year...