A little note about the prediction and who is best threads...

[SSMike]

Couldn't have said it better myself. Well Done.
Winning is important, but it is more important to come together as a FIRST community at Championships. I think that its better to create friends and memories than to win a trophy.

Also it is fun to read the prediction threads but I also use them for scouting, to see clips of what robots can do and to see who might just be a diamond in the rough.

[Tom Line]

I have to agree.

I made a HUGE mistake this year. I had my head so buried in the programming side and the pit support that I missed nearly every match but our own. I also never got to walk through the pits and take pictures of, you guessed it, swerve drives.

During I second Regional I did get to take a breather and see a couple extra matches - but we didn't make it to Atlanta and now I feel like all our season became was an extra long build season.

So especially for you programmers, pit crew, and drive teams. Take a deep breath. This is a once in a life time event for many of you guys. ENJOY it!

[SSMike]

Sorry for the Sidetack but...

Originally Posted by Tom Line

I have to agree.

I made a HUGE mistake this year. I had my head so buried in the programming side and the pit support that I missed nearly every match but our own. I also never got to walk through the pits and take pictures of, you guessed it, swerve drives.

During I second Regional I did get to take a breather and see a couple extra matches - but we didn't make it to Atlanta and now I feel like all our season became was an extra long build season.

So especially for you programmers, pit crew, and drive teams. Take a deep breath. This is a once in a life time event for many of you guys. ENJOY it!

You didn't get any pictures!? What regionals did you go to? I'm sure that I could ask around and find some pictures for you if you want. Just PM me.

[Jeremiah Johnson]

Personally, I use the prediction threads as entertainment. Sort of like Fantasy FIRST. It also gives me an outlet to openly and "theatrically" display my team's abilities. See this post.

I had a lot of fun writing that post. Sure, it may be annoying to some, but I'll never be not-annoying to everyone.

[Brandon Holley]

Good Post!


I would just like to add that EVERYONE works hard on there respective (and sometimes not even their respective) machines. Everyone IS out there to have fun and hopefully win. I think promoting your team on here is great, but like said above don't go crazy trying to win the championship.

Go out there, and make your robot perform to the best of its ability. Talk to teams and see if you are being noticed...if not, tell them to watch a match of yours. DO NOT make this your ultimate goal though. I lost track of how many competitions I've been too over the years (its a ton), and I have been in every possible position. From #1 to dead last...high expectations, to low expectations, and the best way to go is to expect the best of your robot. If the stars don't align for you, don't take it the wrong way, come back next year and prove the doubters wrong...see everyone out there.

[Vogel648]

I'm all for telling people that they missed a great robot. People put up predictions that they think are right, I put up a counter-prediction I think is right. No one should be offended by this.

Also, going onto the first practice matches(though I know practice matches don't mean much) the only thing you have to go on is this preknowledge of what teams are good and do what, for those matches to know what you're up against, it is important to have some basis of knowledge when you get there.

[Kevin Ray]

Ditto to all previous posts. Finally, someone said what many of us have been thinking--just do it.

My absolute favorite part of the whole season--from kickoff to Championship finals is Thursday morning as I stroll about the pits and see how everyone solved the same problem I had, in a more innovative, efficient and simpler way. It's even more enjoyable when they've done better than what we thought was the best solution. I've stolen more ideas that way (oops, I meant borrowed). I really enjoy seeing other bots--especially those who have dared to be different.

Even though we'll probably only get 6 or 7 matches at most at the Championships, we were more than happy to spend all the money it took to get here; The experience for the students is priceless!