FIRST Robotics Competition Blog

Me, pretty much all during the Festival. Except without the sunglasses, long hair, or beard. And not nearly as cool. OK, so maybe not me at all, but if there had been a roof within reach I would have been banging on it.

Wow, sometimes the hype really is real! The Houston Alliance, considered by some to be the underdogs, winning the first two matches, which would have ended it if it had been a standard three match playoff? And St Louis roaring back, taking the next three, a loss in any of which would have ended the run? And a world record unpenalized high score in the final match, and zero penalties in every match? What impressive gameplay, and so exciting!

Also, the sense I got from the participating teams was that they had a great time, which is the most important thing. Lots of time for socializing, a great competition in the middle, and all capped off by a fun BBQ at Dean's house.

A few team parents also told me very personal stories about how FIRST changed the lives of their children, giving them opportunities they otherwise would never have had, or revealing life options they otherwise would never have considered. So inspiring to hear, and really what FIRST is all about.

What a great way to end the season*!

And we've been cranking away on the 2018 season already for months now**. Ooh - it's going to be a good one. I hope everyone joins us again for what's sure to be another for the record books.

Frank

*Don Bossi, our wonderful President of FIRST, jokingly told the staff on his way out the door at the end of the BBQ at Dean's on Saturday that we could "take the rest of the season off". What, the next few hours Don? Wow, thanks! :)

**There is precisely one guaranteed way to see the 2018 game before kickoff. Join the staff! Applications are still open for those jobs we recently posted.