This was my first time at a Michigan FRC event. I'd heard the field is strong here, and now I know that it's true!
Congratulation to FTA Kate on a well-run event -- the volunteer team is every bit as deep and talented as the competing teams, and it showed in their ability to keep the competition moving on schedule in spite of some technical struggles.
(Aside: my own experiences at Midwest and St. Louis earlier this season, along with what I saw of the MI Champs today, make me believe that the robot control system and FMS changes for 2009 have been a very positive step for FRC.)
Congrats also to the winning alliance 217, 67, 65. As others have said, they are a scary-strong combination -- but the field sure made 'em earn it today!
BTW, I noticed two out-of-state mercenaries wearing Thunderchicken regalia, lurking near the 217 pit. Can anyone identify these characters?

__________________
Richard Wallace
Mentor since 2011 for FRC 3620 Average Joes (St. Joseph, Michigan)
Mentor 2002-10 for FRC 931 Perpetual Chaos (St. Louis, Missouri)
since 2003
I believe in intuition and inspiration. Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution. It is, strictly speaking, a real factor in scientific research.
(Cosmic Religion : With Other Opinions and Aphorisms (1931) by Albert Einstein, p. 97)