Question of the Week!!! (7/11/04)

[EddieMcD]

Originally Posted by Andy Grady

Question of the Week (7/11/04):

Do you think that FIRST will ever outgrow its ability to hold a National Championship. If so, what do you feel would be a good alternative to replacing it?

FIRST outgrew its ability to hold a true National Competition back in 2002 when it came up with the even/odd system. A true National competition would have everyone allowed. Of course, that was impossible. That's why they came up with that system in the first place. Now, I realize the question specifically uses the term "Championship". That being said, FIRST probably will never outgrow its ability to hold a championship. Even if it has to take the top finishers from super regionals to hold a 100-team nationals wherever they may hold them, there will always be a FIRST championship. I'm going to get a little opinionated here, but IMO, unfortunately this will cause the "win at all cost" attitude. Yes, I'm well aware that currently (disregarding the tier system) there are other ways to get in, but even those involve trying to be the best at something, which (again IMO) kinda defeats the goal of FIRST.

Okay, I'm going on too much of a tangent. My point is this: FIRST will never outgrow the ability to hold a National Championship, but that may not be a good thing. If all people are doing is vying for those spots in the championship (which proportionally will decrease), then you loose FIRST's basis: Gracious Professionalism. Newer teams may never even learn what GP is if what matters is who wins those decreasing number of spots. I do hope for the day we go back to having a National Competition where everyone is allowed (and it will someday happen if and when they can find a place to house it all). Until then, I hope the competition stays as open as possible, even if it has to treat us all as on the same level. I'm not a big fan of the tier system, but it works.

[jpsaul7usa]

Does anyone have any numbers on how many teams/people have participated in nats for each year of FIRST? I think it would be interesting to see how fast FIRST is growing in that regard.

Also, I think that if having one Championship Event isn't enough, then have more. East Champs and West Champs. FIRST should pay for the winners (or at least subsidize) of those to meet for bragging rights and televise (real TV, not webcast) it so those want to know who's the best in the world. I would love to see a close competition amoung the best 24 or so teams in the biz.