Highest Seed not Chosen for Finals

[Madison]

Originally Posted by Rick TYler

Still, at least eight robots seeded lower than us were chosen. Is this unusual, or Just the Way Things Are? Thanks.

I was in the stands hoping that someone would have the good sense to replace an alliance partner with your robot. A handful of alliances at the event would've been well served to replace the weakest robot of the three after embarrassing, devastating losses.

My team was also exceptionally disappointed to have been overlooked, particularly since the robot was running very well and had been continually improving throughout the end of Friday and all through Saturday. In the end, however, it really is just the way these things go. It's not a reflection of the ability of our robots to compete as much as it is a reflection of how poorly teams can be in evaluating a team's performance -- if that's where their priorities lie.

I've noticed in the last two years of competing here in the Pacific Northwest that FIRST is still relatively unsophisticated here. Everything about the teams, robots, and competition is of lower caliber than what I was used to seeing at home. Teams don't scout as vigorously, don't design as elaborately, and don't interact nearly as much. It's disappointing, honestly.

All of that said, it was nice to meet you, Rick. Hopefully, we can do something to change the bad and improve upon the good and next year, we'll both be doing the choosing rather than waiting to be chosen.