COTKU: General Thoughts

Stephen Webb <*sdwebb91984_at_sdwebb91984.yahoo.invalid*> · Mon, 21 Oct 2002 04:16:32 -0000

A few general thoughts and observations on COTKU:

-The packets were pretty quality for Division II, but the same 
packets were used for Div I as well, so they seemed maybe a tad easy 
for that level. Also, we were not informed that this would be the 
case, as I heard Emory being somewhat distraught about.

-There were multiple repeats, (I now know more about Idi Amin than I 
ever did before), which is particularly bad with it happening in 
playoff rounds. I'll grant Charlie that he did his best considering 
he had a high school tournament the week before.

-Delays added up, and the tournament didn't end until 10~ I believe, 
and I didn't get home until 2 am. I had to work the next day. 
Fortunately I was feeling really productive and got a lot done, but I 
was sedated and myself and my coworker became obsessed with a book we 
found called "LET'S HUG" which was a byproduct of the '80s and was so 
damn funny I had to dump the $.75 it would cost me and buy the thing.

-WHAT HAPPENED TO EARLY BUZZ AND GLORIOUSLY WRONG!? They were never 
announced, and I'm always interested in the ungodly on both sides. 
Just a personal note.

-All in all I enjoyed the actual play, the moderators for the most 
part were highly experienced and excellent. Couple of gripes about 
one or two of the packets, but considering how many questions were 
heard this is insignificant.

-On a side note, my average score per round at this tournament was 
around 10 points higher than the one from NAQT HS NCT last year. I 
find this a wonderful statistical oddity.

-This was my first collegiate tournament, and I must say I find the 
general environment of college to be vastly superior to high school. 
First of all, there weren't any pesky coaches sitting in the back 
asking for score checks every time we pulled ahead in a close match, 
and such. It's also nice playing with people who play because they 
love playing rather than padding their resumes to get into college.

Thanks go out to Charlie and all the other wonderful UTC staff that 
did their damndest to make the tournament run as best they could.

Stephen
GT