We was robbed!!!

[Dad1279]

Originally Posted by jackthepumking

In New Orleans at the bayou regional during the third consecutive match in the quarterfinals between the two alliances chosen by team 499 and Team 34 there was an alleged autonomous Malfunction with the red alliance, causing the refs to order a Redo on match on Match 2, in which The Blue Alliance totally Creamed the Red alliance. We then replayed the match as Match 4 (even though we had already thought we were moving on to the semifinals) and lost... Now, Are we the only ones out there in this known universe who think that The whole replay situation was a load of bull?
If anything the Refs could have stopped Match 2 right there and then when the Malfunction occurred, why wait until the END of MATCH 3?!?
BESIDES, even IF the red alliance DID score those autonomous Points they STILL wouldn't have came anywhere near winning the match!!

WE WAS ROBBED

Jack -
I think there was alot of confusion as to which match was replayed. Perhaps there still is. As I remember, the second match was 70-0, and the refs told the teams that the second match was being replayed. However, I think it was actually the third match that was replayed, as the 70-0 match results are posted, not the third match results.

[Torboticsmember]

Some officials told us that they were replaying the third match because of what happened in the second match. We were on the red alliance. They said they could not replay the second match because they already put the scores up already. hope that clears up any confusion. And in the final 2 matches of the quarter-finals we were told to start hurdling, before we were playing a more defensive strategy, and I like to believe that us hurdling help us a lot. But all three of the opposing alliance teams were a good match up against us. And hopefully we will be able to play against you or with you again next year.

[Dad1279]

Originally Posted by Torboticsmember

Some officials told us that they were replaying the third match because of what happened in the second match. ........

So now I am really confused. What happened in the second match? If that is the one that was 70-0, hybrid or not, would not have changed the outcome.

Since I was not watching the opposing alliances, can anyone tell me in which match the hybrid did not run, and the score of the third match?

[Mike Martus]

The Game is complex..... The electronics are complex.......then add complex robots that often have a mind of their own and do strange things at strange times, and you have with 41 regionals many opportunities for stuff to go wrong.

It is very easy to blame this or blame that.. it is easy to pop up video to "Prove" you were right and "They were wrong........ it is even harder to accept that this is only a celebration of all the hard work a team puts in or shall we say all the GREAT learning the students will enjoy for ever.....

Point is step back.... enjoy the accomplishments... enjoy the moment that many, many others cannot...

I know easy to say..... hard to do, but guys, really, we MUST!

[Steve W]

Every regional has had it's problems. There have been hurdles that were not counted, laps that were not counted, missed penalties, wrong penalties and much more. The biggest question is: Is it more important that we win or that we have the opportunity to play?

FIRST is NOT perfect!!!! Refs are NOT perfect!!! Judges are NOT perfect!!!! Field controls are NOT perfect!!!! but most of all WE ARE NOT PERFECT!!!!

The best part of FIRST is when teams, win or lose, congratulate each other and then cheer for each other. This is a large lesson to learn but I guarantee that by the time you graduate from High School, you will have grown and understand what we are talking about.

[Torboticsmember]

The 2nd quarter final match was when the hybrid was not working. Third match it did work, but I can't remember the score of it.

[Dad1279]

Originally Posted by Torboticsmember

The 2nd quarter final match was when the hybrid was not working. Third match it did work, but I can't remember the score of it.

Can't be. Score was 70-0, and it is posted on First website.

[Kris Verdeyen]

I was the field announcer at Bayou. I can verify that the red alliance there had a strong autonomous, and that none of them moved during the hybrid period of the match in question. I remember finding it odd. After that match, and after being prompted by the red alliance, the FTA (FIRST representative) inspected the field equipment, and either immediately before or during the third match, decided with the referees that there had been a field malfunction.

I was informed after the third match, but before announcing the scores, and I announced it as soon as I was told. This was all done in good faith. The FTA and head referee had no interest in any of the teams involved, and Ed Sparks, the IFI rep, recused himself from the discussion as soon as he could.

The situation sucked for everyone, but everyone acted professionally, and did what they thought was right. In my opinion, the best was made of a bad situation.

[Chris Herold]

Well, something similar happened to us in Portland. The refs made a mistake and counted the penalties against our alliance on the other one. They were mistaken and we thought we would be in the semis. They revised it and gave the game to the other alliance. Our alliance accepted that! It was just right! Unfortunately, our robot broke down and we lost the third match! Whatever shaking hands and being happy! Celebrate FIRST! Where is your GRACIOUS PROFESSIONALISM? I think we did the right thing, went home, improved our robot and won in Seattle! Just imagine how you would have felt on the other side.
The fact is a malfunction on one side of the field is a big disadvantage and requires a replay! I think that's a rather logical consequence!

Chris

[Ed Sparks]

Originally Posted by Steve W

... FIRST is NOT perfect!!!! Refs are NOT perfect!!! Judges are NOT perfect!!!! Field controls are NOT perfect!!!! but most of all WE ARE NOT PERFECT!!!! ...

Amen brother .......

If anyone has a good idea for a "perfect control system" along with "flawless scoring", please submit it to FIRST ASAP. EVERYONE and I mean EVERYONE on that field is trying to do the best they can and do the right thing. I suggest YOU volunteer next year as a Ref and get a little taste of what it takes to make the right call EVERY time. I've done this, it's tough!

To say we somehow "robbed" you is completely wrong. I'm sorry it happened, but I believe the right call was made and I think if it had happened to your allience, you would have pleaded the same case for a re-match.

It's over, done, let's move on and be positive. Next year maybe everything will be perfect.

[rfolea]

Originally Posted by Ed Sparks

Amen brother .......

If anyone has a good idea for a "perfect control system" along with "flawless scoring", please submit it to FIRST ASAP. EVERYONE and I mean EVERYONE on that field is trying to do the best they can and do the right thing. I suggest YOU volunteer next year as a Ref and get a little taste of what it takes to make the right call EVERY time. I've done this, it's tough!

It's over, done, let's move on and be positive. Next year maybe everything will be perfect.

Hmmm... There seems to be a trend here ... Everywhere Ed goes there is a major field malfunction ... Hmmm...

(sorry Ed, couldn't resist .. <grin>)

[meaubry]

Well said by everyone that has pointed out that nothing is flawless -
but most importantly though -

I wish everyone would take a moment and remind themselves that the ONLY people really getting "robbed", are the students that are NOT even given the opportunity to experience FIRST.

Mike Aubry

[MoeMom]

Our students (all ya'll- not just the green ones) make me truly proud on a regular basis. But this thread reminds me of one particular time.

Last year at the Championship a MOE parent was volunteering to queue on the field where MOE competed. The head ref told him- not realizing he was a team parent- how impressed she was when she ruled against the MOE students who had asked her to review a call because they spoke well and respectfully to her and accepted her decision in a really tough break.

I figured that was another big win for FIRST.

It's easier for me to see this. I've got years of FIRST experience to balance on, but there's lots of kinds of winning because there are lots of goals to work for. The scoreboard is just one.

And off season events are fun just for this reason...friendly rematches!

[Ed Sparks]

Originally Posted by rfolea

Hmmm... There seems to be a trend here ... Everywhere Ed goes there is a major field malfunction ... Hmmm...

(sorry Ed, couldn't resist .. <grin>)

I've been banned from volunteering on any field at the championship .......
It's back to the pits as a lead inspector for me....

See y'all soon.

[DCA Fan]

One of my friends, who is a referee for AYSO soccer put it this way.

Ask a group of parents how many of their teams have lost because of a referee, and most of them will raise their hands. Ask the same group how many of their teams have WON because of a referee, and none of them will raise their hands.

As a referee, we really can't win hearts and minds. We just have to be fair and judge everyone as equally as possible. I'm sorry that the original poster felt "robbed," but in every attempt to make sure rules are followed according to what's written, sometimes you'll have to take a call against you. Sometimes a call will go in your favor. Just remember two things. One, it's not about the winning, it's about the learning. And two, statistically, if an error is made against you in some round, chances are, it has been made against your opponents in another, and it'll even out in the end.