2008 Florida Regional

[Dybala]

Team 2422 B.o.B. had a wonderful time at their first ever Regional Competition. A BIG thank you to everyone! We are very honored to have recieved the Rookie Inspiration Award and look forward to next year!

Also, an extra thank you to Team 79 for hosting the Tempest n' Tampa event this past September. We brought 20 students to the event, which sealed the deal for the creation of B.o.B.

[Swampdude]

I'd also like to thank all the volunteers at Fla. It's always the same great bunch. With all the ref bashing going on, I think we had it good. I didn't see anything funny, and everything was explained to our drive team. Our alliance was warned for impeding and gave us specifics on what to correct, but they let the game be played. I appreciate their willingness to communicate with everyone their concerns. I honestly think FIRST did a great job this year being much more communicative about everything. I think they see that the game will be played primarily by our attempts to conform to these rules as best we can. These Florida refs have been there year after year and always show respect to the efforts our teams put into this. I always enjoy our level of communication on the field as well. I felt the scoring and the penalties were right where they should be, and were consistent. They always seem to be having as much fun as we do. I also really liked the announcing this year, especially the ball randomizer
Good job everyone, and Thank You!

[techtiger1]

Let me just say Dan I completely echo you sentiments about the reffering. I wasn't on the field but from the stands it looked like they took there time to discuss what happened amongst themselves and both the alliences out there during the finals. Ohh and I will check on those van door motors for you guys. .

[Jacob Paikoff]

Originally Posted by Dybala

Team 2422 B.o.B. had a wonderful time at their first ever Regional Competition. A BIG thank you to everyone! We are very honored to have recieved the Rookie Inspiration Award and look forward to next year!

Also, an extra thank you to Team 79 for hosting the Tempest n' Tampa event this past September. We brought 20 students to the event, which sealed the deal for the creation of B.o.B.

No problem and we are hosting our second annual Tempest 'n' Tampa this October and I was around collecting contact information from some teams. If I didn't come to your pits and your team would like to attend or would like more info on the event, either come to our pits at Nationals and ask for Jacob or you can visit http://www.roboticsboosters.com/tnt/ to find out more and sign up.

[Tytus Gerrish]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

About safety.
There was a major incident in the pits yesterday where a member of 395 lost a part of his finger in the robot. I know you guys at times find the safety aspect of the game to be annoying and intrusive but it's incidents like this is why FIRST drives the safety initiatives so hard. Your body does not have replacement parts. Follow all safety procedures to the fullest even if it adds minutes to what you are doing. It'll be worth it in the long run.

Thats a Big Deal!!!
who was this guy? I would like to know what happened from him. I heard that he is a 22 Year old about graduate college. that got his index finger cought between a Roler Chain and a sprocket while the robot was bench testing autonomus mode. That is a tough Break, Litteraly!. I guess we will have to wait untill he learns how to type with only 9 fingers. Everyone NEEDS TO BE CAREFULL with these things!!! I have had way too many close calls. And fingers don't grow back

[dmellich]

Originally Posted by Swampdude

Sure, do I get some kind of royalties? Spare van door motors?

I have six - albeit a few have shaft modifications. What are your requirements shaft wise?

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Tytus Gerrish

Thats a Big Deal!!!
who was this guy? I would like to know what happened from him. I heard that he is a 22 Year old about graduate college. that got his index finger cought between a Roler Chain and a sprocket while the robot was bench testing autonomus mode. That is a tough Break, Litteraly!. I guess we will have to wait untill he learns how to type with only 9 fingers. Everyone NEEDS TO BE CAREFULL with these things!!! I have had way too many close calls. And fingers don't grow back

I saw him during the awards cermony. He told me they couldn't get the finger reattached but otherwise he seemed to be in good spirits. He seemed ok. Nit that it is much of a consolation from what heppened to him.

[Jim E]

The Florida Regional was one of the finest venues I have ever attended. 61 teams fighting for positions, yet always willing to help your competition with spare parts, tools, advice, and whatever else is needed to keep your robot going.

First, I want to thank all of the parent mentors and especially Mr. Zachariah for coordinating getting all the students to Orlando. That feat alone is worth a special award!

Thanks goes out to our excellent alliance partners 1065 and rookie PR team 2564. Your teams delivered as promised. Our robot took a frame hit and couldn't overcome the resistance of dragging on the carpet. Hopefully we will see each other again in Atlanta.

I wish to repeat the Thanks to the Volunteers. You are the reason the event went as smooth as it did.

[Salbert]

Originally Posted by Swampdude

Ouch, I think about that every year. I get in a rush and find myself willing to take risks, but then realize this competition is just a temporary thing. I did break my finger in 2003 in Atlanta, but it had nothing to do with the robot, we were goofing around in the hotel room.... heh.

OK so I wanted to say thank you to 1592, 1403, and 180 for giving us your Van door motors. We got about 4 matches out of each one. Thank you so much for those!

I had a great time this year, our students really stepped up to the plate and ran everything smoothly, I got to sit back for most of it and enjoy everything. I'm just very proud of these guys and girls. Our programming team are hero's to me. Scouting was great, and Sean (our driver) blew me away.

Big thanks to 69 and 342, it was a blast, and as Eddie said (from 69) we lost to the best. That couldn't be a truer statement. The pink tiger resistance solidified a strategy we couldn't get around in that last match. 86 played great defense on us. Frankly I didn't think we were going to get past the #1 alliance in the semis. Those were some incredible matches. It was great to see everyone again, it always feels like a family thing to me, great people and friends.

Congrats to 1523! Thats amazing, you guys are on fire. OH I FORGOT MARS GAVE US A MOTOR TOO! lol

When I saw 179's robot at their Swamp Scrimmage, I was blown away, you guys did awesome! Congrats at making it to the finals and getting the Delphi award!!!

[Swampdude]

Originally Posted by dmellich

I have six - albeit a few have shaft modifications. What are your requirements shaft wise?

Heh, thanks Dave. I was just kidding, but I'll gladly take one
as long as it's got a shaft longer than 1.5" we can kill it. Although a change will be made in Atlanta that should save it. We still have 1 spare. It was ridiculous how we went through them. I'm surprised they couldn't hold up better but it was a pretty good shock load situation.

[hoorayforpink]

Originally Posted by Dybala

Also, an extra thank you to Team 79 for hosting the Tempest n' Tampa event this past September. We brought 20 students to the event, which sealed the deal for the creation of B.o.B.

I would also like to say thank you to team 79. TNT was amazing. Easily the funnest first event I have ever been too. Great robots, great fun, open practices, exciting finals matches, and we even got like thirty kids from different teams to bottle (hacky sacking with anything that isn't a hacky sack-its what we call it) with us. It was a great event and I look forward to it again in October.

Although I'm not gonna lie. The 2008 Florida regional was almost as fun.

[hipsterjr]

Originally Posted by hoorayforpink

and we even got like thirty kids from different teams to bottle (hacky sacking with anything that isn't a hacky sack-its what we call it) with us.

Try it with a track ball. It was fun until I just about broke my foot

[Akash Rastogi]

Congrats to 1251 for an intense performance. Glad to see you guys going strong

[swamp_child]

While I must admit we're not thrilled to get second again, we really want to break the rut, there is no teams I'd rather lose to than 233, 1251 and 86. That was sure an amazing alliance. 2 of the top hurdlers and then 86, who just played amazing defense the entire match.
Congratulations to 1523 for winning chairman's, you guys deserve it, I saw you working late Thursday night in the lobby of the hotel, preparing.
Even though Dan already said it, thanks toy all of our friends for giving us the van door motors. 180,1403, and 1523. You guys have no idea how grateful we are, with out you we would have not even made it into the playoffs. Also thanks to I think Jack is his name, the machinist on 180, who helped us mill out the dimples in our shafts. Thanks a ton guys!
This year again confirmed my belief that the Florida regional has got to be the hardest regional to win.

[David Guzman]

First of all I want to thank all the volunteers that made the event possible, you are all awesome.

I would like to thank teams 233 and 86 for being amazing partners. We had great communication and stuck to the plan. It was great.

This is the 4th time we have to face 179 in regional finals, and it is always so tough. You guys have an amazing robot every year and your partners were great. I just wish sometime in the near future we can be on the same alliance.

Last, but most definitely not least; congratulations to 1523 MARS. You guys are one heck of a team.