Michigan State Championship 2009

[Wayne TenBrink]

Mentors DRIVING?? I wasn't too scared of this idea when it was our cool-under-fire student team. I'd just choke. Besides, Frodo can't see over the drivers station wall.

[Btower]

Originally Posted by Alex469

As far as I can recall, there was no scheduled practice time - teams just showed up and got put onto the field, 6 at a time. Of course, you're going to have to convince the lead queuer (Edith, I believe) to let you wait along the sideline until all 6 teams show up.

This has been the structure under the First of MI program, for MI Championships, I think we are going back to scheduled practice times.

That's not to say we couldn't find some room in the schedule, especially since all the robots have been out for 20+ matches so far and the fields have been running well.

E v. W might also be used if we have an off schedule "Media Match" usually done for a live TV spot after the normal schedule. I'll know more about the schedule tomorrow night.

As far as scheduling it, I'd probably be the guy to talk to to get the ball rolling as far as getting it into the schedule as I'd have to coordinate it through the event team (AV, FIRST in MI, Queing team, Field Reset, Media Relations etc...) I think the mentor match would be a perfect "teaser" on Thursday, with perhaps the E. v. W. student post scheduled matches on Friday (prime TV News Spot Time).

I'll look into it and if there is enough interest (and little complaining) perhaps we can make this happen.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Wayne TenBrink

Mentors DRIVING?? I wasn't too scared of this idea when it was our cool-under-fire student team. I'd just choke. Besides, Frodo can't see over the drivers station wall.

You know, IRI used to have a mentor round that counted in your points for each team. Some other events do something similar.

Or are you scared that you didn't help engineer the robot strong enough?

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by Alex469

As far as I can recall, there was no scheduled practice time - teams just showed up and got put onto the field, 6 at a time. Of course, you're going to have to convince the lead queuer (Edith, I believe) to let you wait along the sideline until all 6 teams show up.

The Championship is run under Regional rules, not District. There should be a set practice schedule.

Beside asking field personnel - queuing, scoring, field supervisor, FTA, etc - you probably need the permission of Show Ready (the professional event staff).

[Btower]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

... you probably need the permission of Show Ready (the professional event staff).

She's easy, you can get just about anything on the schedule for a Starbucks

[HighLife]

I really like the idea of having a traveling trophy. I also like the idea of having this match on Friday.

The larger the audience the better.

[Alex Dinsmoor]

Originally Posted by Wayne TenBrink

Mentors DRIVING?? I wasn't too scared of this idea when it was our cool-under-fire student team. I'd just choke. Besides, Frodo can't see over the drivers station wall.

Don't forget, you're playing with 5 other teams who also have their mentors driving

[drhall]

Originally Posted by Wayne TenBrink

Mentors DRIVING?? I wasn't too scared of this idea when it was our cool-under-fire student team. I'd just choke. Besides, Frodo can't see over the drivers station wall.

I will be interested how about Thursday night right after the regular schedule practices?

Dan 216

[Wayne TenBrink]

We're game for a mentor mashup on Thursday. Gotta find a step stool for "Frodo" Brown though. Maybe he can just stand up in the outpost.

[Alex Golec]

So, who's making the trophy? If the machine shop isn't being used since everyone's robot has already been broken in through 24+ matches, it would keep them busy... and amused!

[Wayne TenBrink]

We could play for the "VerBrugge Cup" or some such thing. The "trophy" needs to be something loud (like his shirt) and lighthearted.

[Jack Jones]

This is supposed to be the State Championship event. Please don't let it degenerate into something else. It's supposed to be about the best FRC teams in the state going at it, not about a bunch of oldies trying to make themselves the center of attention.

[Adam Freeman]

If this is going to happen, we need to have a plan in place so that the teams can have the correct personnel in place.

I know many of our mentors were not planning on attending Thursday, since we have had almost 60 matches under our belts. They feel that the time is better spent at work for another day.

We will also be running our backup drive team all of Thursday to get them some additional practice while our A team is busy. I have full confidence that we will be able to compete with them, but I'd like to know if I need to drill them in the practice matches leading up to this Ev.W shootout....

Not to mention, we have not heard anything from 217....they have 60+ matches and may not even be attending on Thursday...you never know.

We are still good for a student run match if it can get set up.

- Adam

[johnr]

Some of these teams did have 60 matches already. Why would you want to take the chance of something happening to your bot ....oh, forget what i was saying,go right ahead, maybe just before finals start.

[HighLife]

Originally Posted by johnr

Some of these teams did have 60 matches already. Why would you want to take the chance of something happening to your bot ....oh, forget what i was saying,go right ahead, maybe just before finals start.

Because we build our robots to a high qaulity standard and trust that it won't fail.

38 Matchs
Hours of practice
And 0 failures