Re: Team Numbering System?
 

Doesn't assigning a number to a FIRST team give it meaning? I don't know about you, but I'm always excited to see my team number pop up in random places.

Re: Team Numbering System?
 

My team is a rookie team this year and we are #1888. If you look at the NASA grant to rookie teams under "Program Growth Awards" they are all #1700-1900s.

Re: Team Numbering System?
 

You are correct we were #32

Here is how 32 = 47 (indulge my math please)

32 + 3(the first digit) + 2(the second digit) = 37 + 3 (the first digit) + 7 (the second digit) = 47

This is why I am not teaching math :)

Re: Team Numbering System?
 

I think that number of teams that have dropped out over the past 10-14 years could be around 30-35%, some are just taking a year off. I also remember that when you registered back in 2000 (our first year), you were assigned a # even if you hadn't paid. So some of the numbers may have been assigned but never actually used. Also there was a odd/even debacle in 2002/3 to get to Nationals, I heard there were a few teams that re-registered as rookies to get a new number hoping it would make them eligible for Nats (I can't imagine that many teams actually doing that - but I heard it did happen.)

Re: Team Numbering System?
 

i know that funding dried up for a lot of teams when the economy took a down turn. Also, is 32 really 47 in base 15 or was the just a guess? i know that (yes i'm a geek) 6*9 really DOES equal 42 in bas 13, so it's not out of the question...

Re: Team Numbering System?
 

What about Judaism, where 666 is considered a holy number?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_...st_(numerology)
I also remember reading something where it said that the "Mark of the Beast" was not 666. The number 666 was an incorrect translation from some Hebrew Scriptures.

Re: Team Numbering System?
 

I maintain my remark that it was a precaution, just like limiting the maximum velocity to 10ft/sec for a projectile in the 2004 game. Many teams could have made a perfect contraption that latched on to the bar, just in the same way many teams would have liked to be team 666. FIRST as an organization is not one to openly present situations which could cause harm.

Re: Team Numbering System?
 

I agree with Keith here: FIRST is not an orginization to take chances, and they wouldn't risk a team not being allowed to compete, for whatever reason, if they had 666 as their team number. Even if the school allowed it, I'd imagine they might have trouble getting funding, not to mention being laughed at. Just because some people (including me) do not believe it signifies anything doesn't mean no one does. People have their own beliefs, and they're entitled to them.