This is a brutal game.

[eugenebrooks]

I don't see the game as being brutal. High speed ramming is against the rules and should be penalized, but you should expect lots of pushing and bumping. Defense has a high value in this game and a shooter that can get accurate shots off while the robot is engaged in pushing and shoving has a high value.

Some robots are designed to collect a large number of balls, climb the platform, and then unload these balls into the three point goal with a high shooter. There is only one defense against this and it requires pushing and shoving from a very precarious perch.

FIRST did a fantastic job in designing the game and the robot rules this year. Except in very extenuating circumstances the bumpers define the contact point between robots and any team that decided not to use bumpers made a mistake both in terms of protection and in their robot weight.

I would like to congratuate FIRST for their production of the best game ever, and in their careful attention to robot rules that limit damage to robots while allowing a vigorous defensive game strategy.