YMTC: Can teams start cutting metal for 2005?

[JVN]

Originally Posted by Natchez

John, I appreciate your use of the excessive to make your point and flippant attempt to cease a discussion with which you do not agree. I'm sorry that I am not willing to lower myself to your level but I will try to answer your concern.

Remember kids, whenever you see a post like this just ask yourself -- WWABD? (What would Andy Baker Do?) It was that question which caused me to delete every response up to this point.
(Let's try one more time...)

I guess at this time, my only question is this:
How come whenever there is a discussion about "leveling the playingfield" it involves tying the someone's hands behind their back?

The solution is not to decrease the level of veteran play -- This doesn't seem like what FIRST is about. I believe the solution is to INCREASE the level of rookie play. If the gap between veterans and rookies seems too large, perhaps we need to "raise the rookies". Instead of asking ourselves how to limit the veterans -- ask yourself "How can we help the rookies kick butt...?"

Lucien,
You seem to believe that robot practice during the 6-weeks is somehow the magical factor needing adjustment. So, ask yourself how we can give rookie teams more practice (for the big game).

Why can't rookie teams take the drivebase included in the KOP and practice with that? We (229) haven't used it in the past, but I know many teams have used it to great effect. Isn't it supposed to be up and running in a few hours? (I'm almost positive I saw some video of Blair in 2003 and Vince in 2004 building one in an hour...) What is stopping rookies from practicing with that?

If this drivebase is inadequate (is it?), maybe FIRST should consider a newer, more competitive version. Certainly this seems like a better solution than rules which disallow veterans from using their resources.

Hopefully I will be able to someday rise to Lucien's "higher level" -- Until Then,
JVN