Want to Win, Don't Whine

[Mike Copioli]

Art this is an excellent post. I wish all teams had this perspective. Most teams have been in this situation at least once in their existence. This is true for our team. I remember my first year in FRC, 2001. I remember being that team that was "talking" with the number one seed in hopes that we would be picked in the second (and in 2001, third) rounds. That year two teams became the inspiration for us to excel. The first team was one that "did it all" their robot was able to reset the ramp, drive over it and balance both goals at the same time. They were simply amazing.

The second team was equally impressive. Their robot was called "Ramp Bot" and as the name suggests it was a mobile ramp that other robots could drive onto. It was so impressive I cheered for this robot even when we were losing to them. I think the KOP had about 13 motors in it that year and I believe they used them all. The design consisted of rivets and sheet metal in an aircraft like structure. It was an inspiration and is one of the reasons we use rivets today.

While the focus of this post may seem to be about two robots it is really about two teams and how their performance on the field is a result of hard work, dedication and sacrifice. Instead of making us jealous, the success of these teams inspired us to achieve greatness both on and off of the field. Instead of asking, "Why do they have all of this success?" We asked, "How do we get that good?". These teams continued to be an inspiration to both myself and our future teams. Year after year they were seen helping other teams to become successful in the pits and elsewhere. Without teams like these FIRST would die.

Success is not a bad thing. It is not something that should be dished out in equal parts to everyone in the eyes of fairness. It is something that is earned through hard work and achievement, dedication and perseverance. These teams elevate the Game and FIRST as a whole and their students reap the benefits. I hope some day that our team reaches the level that these two inspiring teams have reached.

Oh BTW, the two teams are Team 71 and Team 111 respectively

[GGCO]

Rookie team 3357, the COMETS, had a similar experience. One of our mentors has been blogging about it here.

[Jacob Paikoff]

First off, great post and congratulations on the regional win

My team faced a similar experience at the Florida Regional this year. We had a bad CRIO which caused the field to crash every time we connected. Because of this we were red carded from a match and only work fully in 2 of our 10 matches.

But we didn't give up, I can admit that I whined a little and even though about just crating the robot and shipping it to our next event, We got a new CRIO and our robot's potential got us selected by the 8th seeded alliance, 1557 and 801(Thanks again) and we helped our alliance become finalist.

I think this was one of the top two greatest learning experience I have had while I have been on team 79 and I will carry these lessons with me as long as I am involved with FIRST and beyond.

[Tetraman]

2010 will go down in FIRST history as being the game where more people complained about robots then the game design and set of rules.

And a note should be taken that complaining about teams being and doing what they have worked hard to become, is the most unnecessary talking point in FIRST. Ever.

From now on, I'm just going to link people to the various threads that discuss this and similar "do something for yourself" to those who still don't get the message.