I have to chime in here as well.
1) There's no rookie team in Davis, maybe they were referring to a rookie team that attended the Davis Regional.
2) Not to stiffle creativity and the thrill to innovate, but for a rookie team or 2nd year team - I highly suggest a robust 6WD setup with kit transmissions (if supplied).
Pic...
http://www.travisusd.k12.ca.us/vande...n/DSC05175.JPG
Last year was probably our most reliable drive system (yes - even with banebots). Kit transmissions, chained to a center-traction wheel (kit wheels), the center wheel chained to the front and back wheels. Tensioned with UMHW off-center cams. The whole drive system was put together using nothing more than a cordless drill and a band saw (neglecting the welded frame which could be replaced by a kit frame).
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR A ROOKIE TEAM IS TO GET THEIR DRIVE SYSTEM WORKING BY THE END OF THE THIRD WEEK. Our team was very competitive last year, simple because of it's dependablity and driver practice. Our drive team had over a week of practice before ship.
3) Use innovative ideas to develop a cool manipulator or strategy. There's absolutely nothing more troubling than to have your robot unable to drive.
I think back to the days of 2000, 2001, 2002 when there was no simple drive system that came in the kit. You had some cordless drill motors, transmissions, and skyway wheels that you had to make work. That took our team the bulk of the 6 weeks.