[Nick Seidl]

So here's my spiel: I am the HP for my team this year, and I've gotten some weird looks because of my pre-match ritual. It basically runs like this: While waiting in the queueing area, I pass around the lucky bearing with the rest of my team. This bearing stays with me during the match. As one of the people in charge of actually carrying the robot onto the field, I insist on the three count before lifting it be in German (eins, zwei, drei). When I get to my pad, I have to take off my hat, run my fingers through my hair, then put my hat on backwards, slightly off center to my left. I then look over at my drivers who give me four fingers on each hand (a sign to tell me that I want to be back in 8 seconds or less). I give them the same, and then tighten the velcro on the biker gloves I wear (they don't really do anything besides psych me up). I then scuff my feet on the carpet next to the pad, and then on the pad itself. From there I check my shoelaces, and get ready. I assume a stance with my right foot towards the stack, knee slightly bent, left leg back, knee locked. I then sway that way untill the signal to go. Please tell me that I'm not that odd, and that other HP (or drivers) have some odd rituals too.