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Unread 10-03-2013, 21:31
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Billfred Billfred is offline
...and you can't! teach! that!
FRC #5402 (Iron Kings); no team (AndyMark)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Rookie Year: 2004
Location: The Land of the Kokomese, IN
Posts: 8,484
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In praise of FRC4451, ROBOTZ Garage

South Carolina is not a powerhouse for FRC.

We have our moments of brilliance, yes, but when Palmetto wrapped up nine days ago, only one of the eight sets of medals stayed within the state*. 2056 has matched South Carolina's combined Einstein appearance count**, and done it in three seasons. While other states have experienced explosive growth, team count in the state hasn't doubled in ten years***.

*2187 won; Chairman's, Engineering Inspiration, and the five other teams in the finals were from out of state.
**343 in 2003, 1319 in 2007.
***19 in 2004, 36 in 2013. Of those 19, only 10 remain active today.


It is against this backdrop that I have to brag on a rookie team from the town Fountain Inn, South Carolina. (Never been to Fountain Inn? It's more or less the sign that you're close to Greenville.) Laurens County has a 14.3% poverty rate*, a 62% free/reduced lunch rate in their district*, not much of an industrial base...and you know what came from here?

Ladies and gentlemen, FRC 4451, ROBOTZ Garage.

Watch these guys in St. Louis.
__________________
William "Billfred" Leverette - Gamecock/Jessica Boucher victim/Marketing & Sales Specialist at AndyMark

2004-2006: FRC 1293 (D5 Robotics) - Student, Mentor, Coach
2007-2009: FRC 1618 (Capital Robotics) - Mentor, Coach
2009-2013: FRC 2815 (Los Pollos Locos) - Mentor, Coach - Palmetto '09, Peachtree '11, Palmetto '11, Palmetto '12
2010: FRC 1398 (Keenan Robo-Raiders) - Mentor - Palmetto '10
2014-2016: FRC 4901 (Garnet Squadron) - Co-Founder and Head Bot Coach - Orlando '14, SCRIW '16
2017-: FRC 5402 (Iron Kings) - Mentor

93 events (more than will fit in a ChiefDelphi signature), 13 seasons, over 60,000 miles, and still on a mission from Bob.

Rule #1: Do not die. Rule #2: Be respectful. Rule #3: Be safe. Rule #4: Follow the handbook.