Quote:
Originally Posted by Billfred
I won't draw it all the way over to on-field performance--for a given level of robot performance, there are three differentiators:
1) History. (The blue banner we earned the hard way at Peachtree got us on the map at Palmetto, since we were the only ones thus far that had won a regional in 2011. Until you get through regional number one, you're kinda hosed here.)
2) Connections. (It also helped that George Wallace, who I've known for about as long as I've been in FRC, was running strategy for SPAM at Palmetto--while 180 and 2815 had never shared a field before that weekend, there was already a channel of communication. You being Dr. Joe, you should have this covered like white on rice on a paper plate with a glass of milk in a snowstorm.)
3) Memorability. (This is where branding, especially on-robot branding, helps.)
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I am not specifically talking about how you play on the field but how you act as a team, and how that goes a great way in contributing to your team reputation. Here History, Connections, and Memorability are definatly significant. Teams have long memories-- for both positive and negitive things. As to on-field-performance regarding branding. I think you would agree that the best known compainies are also some of the most successful. Similarly, some of the best known FRC teams are also the most successful. Weither or not their good branding drove their success or their success created their brand into something memorable is debatable. However, the connection is there. People remember people who are successful. When I look back on previous games I best remember the robots that were really successful, but not quite as well all of the robots which were painted their various teams' colors. I think what it comes down to is, because every team tries to be unique in their colors and stand out among the crowd of other teams, it is easy for everyone become a blur. (I know all of the crazy colors/mascots no longer even phases me during compitition.) Because of this the way your team acts and performs is that much more important, it is a further way to differienciate one's team from the rest.
The best way I can explain this is to use an example. If you have had any interaction with the Killer Bees you don't simply think Black, Yellow, Antenne. (I hope) You are also calling up positive experiences regarding us. "Oh, they helped us with our cRio problem last year" "oh, they were really nice when we played with them in a qualification match," "Man, I hope we don't have to play the Killer Bees." As a team grows older these sort of things begin to add up and deveop into a reputation which is seperate from the brand but which is at least equal to it in importatance.