[Justin]

Okay A few things...

First of I have to disagree with Jess' post about "powerhouse vets" what the heck is that?? I suppose Beaty is a "powerhouse vet" because they've won like 17 championships, a chairman’s, etc. That being said there are teams who (despite all odds and the best attempts to prevent it) are consistent. The question then is what makes them consistent (I have some of my own ideas but...getting flamed is so yesterday)...Andy are you listening that's next weeks question okay!! However I have certainly seen PLENTY of matches where so called "powerhouse teams" have been given a very serious beating by rookie teams, which in my view is the great part about FIRST. In other sports if you train hard you can become extremely good at what you do eventually...practice makes perfect. Why is this? Because the game stays the same...mixing it up each year helps to keep everyone on a level playing field (usually). In basketball if you are talented you're going to do very well at playing the game. In FIRST there is virtually NO guarantee from one year to the next that you will be a "powerhouse" or will even win a single competition. So how relevant is that label anyways?

Secondly, I think that being a veteran on each type of team has its own serious pitfalls. I think being a veteran on a different veteran team is probably the hardest. I've toyed from time to time with trying to join a veteran team that wasn't my original HS team and I think this is very very hard because each team in FIRST has its own culture, its own inside jokes, that you have to break through. On the other than being on a rookie time presents its own challenges in that you have to balance your know how with the kids ideas and resist the temptation to always be spouting "well in past years." But you don't have to break through that culture, etc. because it is in the process of being created. Ultimately I just haven't found a team that I've really clicked with since the demise of my original team and perhaps I never will.

Those are my thoughts...lengthy as they are,

Justin