Posted by Jim Phillips, Coach on team #284, CTC/ Lockheed Martin Tactical , from CTC of Lackawanna County.
Posted on 4/12/99 5:30 PM MST
We attended an early regional (philly) and don’t understand the three teams at the Michigan regional. Would someone fill us in? What was it and how did it work? Thanks - See you in FLA.
Posted by Michael Martus, Coach on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central H.S. and Delphi Automotives Systems.
Posted on 4/12/99 8:45 PM MST
In Reply to: Alliance Info ??!! posted by Jim Phillips on 4/12/99 5:30 PM MST:
The top 8 seeds chose like at all other regionals. However, in an effort to min. the timeouts and always have 4 robots working during the final matches the field was expanded to another choice. That make a third alliance as back-up. this also gets other teams involved.
The format was very good in MI. However the extra choice was extra work if you were in the top 8.
I personally feel that any team asked by the top 8 team should have to go with them. The refusal of your choice is embarrassing to you. It also stirs hard feelings. Back room deals, well I just am not in favor of that.
Just my opinion only.
I would be proud to be with any team if chosen, no matter the team, no matter the style of robot. I trust the teams choice as being good for them.
Posted by Jerry Eckert, Engineer on team #140 from Tyngsboro, MA High School and New England Prototype/Brooks Automation.
Posted on 4/13/99 8:12 AM MST
In Reply to: Re: Alliance Info ??!! posted by Michael Martus on 4/12/99 8:45 PM MST:
: The refusal of your choice is embarrassing to you. It also stirs hard feelings. Back room deals, well I just am not in favor of that.
If anyone is embarrassed because a team rejects their offer for an alliance
then perhaps the real problem is the outlook of the offering team.
This is business, not a popularity contest. If a proposed partner feels they
have a better match for their situation elsewhere, then so be it. Move
on and get over it. Pick another team. Show them they made a big mistake! 
In the real world you don’t always get what you want just because you’re
bigger, richer, at the top of a list, etc. It’s going to be a lot easier
for the students to learn that lesson now rather than after they finish
school and have a lot more at stake.
My $0.02 worth…
- Jerry