The Age Old Question

[GeeTwo]

Certainly a defensible collection!

Personally, I'd have 118 on the list instead of 2056, mostly for repeatedly producing (mostly out-of-the-box) Einstein-level solutions as opposed to being undefeated at regionals for-ff-ing-ever.

[CJ_Elliott]

Originally Posted by GeeTwo

Certainly a defensible collection!

Personally, I'd have 118 on the list instead of 2056, mostly for repeatedly producing (mostly out-of-the-box) Einstein-level solutions as opposed to being undefeated at regionals for-ff-ing-ever.

Scoreboard.... outside of winning champs which 118 has only done once... 2056 has 5 more blue banners. But Ill agree that 118's robots are always awesome.

[RoboAlum]

Originally Posted by GeeTwo

Certainly a defensible collection!

Personally, I'd have 118 on the list instead of 2056, mostly for repeatedly producing (mostly out-of-the-box) Einstein-level solutions as opposed to being undefeated at regionals for-ff-ing-ever.

I do believe that I am a firm believer that 118 and 2056 are yin and yang. 2056 produces a by the book robot that can play the game at the highest rate of play but nothing is ever crazy where on the other hand 118 is literally this year a Swiss Army knife and they have the most of our box designs to where you just look and get that what...no...how feeling

[asid61]

1. 254 - Great team on and off the field. Their strategy is intense, especially in how they achieved an OPR of 160 last year and their 2014 win.
2. 1114 - Apart from their great robots, their support of other teams is practically legendary at this point.
3. 33 - Great branding on great robots. I love their media releases as well.
4. 148 - Most creative robots IMO. 2008 was terrifyingly smart, their 2013 climb was interesting to watch, 2015 was the best-executed in its class, etc.
5. 71 - Their YOLO-but-great strategies won championships 4 times. 2002 is my second favorite robot after 469's 2010 bot.

Honorable mentions: 1717 was my favorite team until they dropped out last year. Beautiful swerve drives, incredibly smart controls. Their 2012 robot was so beautiful it was almost a tragedy when they lost.
16 has their swerve drive controls and drivers so good it's unbelievable.

[Billfred]

1) 254. Sustained excellence personified. At least one blue banner, every year, since they started in 1999. Hall of Fame. Five trips to Einstein (01, 05, 10, 11, 14), winning twice.
2) 1114. All the nice things I said about 254, in slightly smaller quantities.
3) 71. Four world titles makes The BEAST the undisputed kings of the pre-modern era game, which was simultaneously easier and harder to dominate. Whichever way you slice it, their 2001 and 2002 robots are infamous in a way hardly anyone is today.
4) 67. The original Triple Crown team. Six trips to Einstein, three world titles (and dunked on the first by winning Chairman's right after), four Michigan state championships (there have only been eight of them).
5) 2056. The Streak. 23 for 24, and even on that one they left with Chairman's. Two trips to Einstein, including 2012 where the world will never know. Undoubtedly, the best team that has yet to win it all--but they've won a hell of a lot.

[Basel A]

I think such a list is simple to construct. First, any list without 67 and 71 is dumb (based on World Championships alone). Next, 1114 and 2056 have been elite more consistently in the last 9 years than any other teams in FRC history have been in that long a stretch of time. To me, those four teams are entirely unquestionable. The last spot is a bit harder. If you're biased towards early FRC history, you go with 47. If you're not interested in the 90s, you go with 254 or 987, or another team of that caliber.

[scott.smith]

First, I would put 254 at the top, for the sheer amount of blue banners they have gotten throughout the years. Their robots are consistently the best every year. The obligatory 71 for being so dominant before. (4 CMP titles!!) Next I would say 1114 for being such a good team on and off of building robots. Next then I would say 118 and 2056. 118 produces such ridiculously complex and brilliant robots that are so good that I cannot believe that they have only won one championship title. Some people would disagree for putting them this high on the list but they are a personal favorite of mine. Tied for 4th is 2056. Their now-ended streak was the best in first history, and their robots are not complex, just the best you can possibly get. Teams that are very close to this list include 148, 1241, 469, 67, 359, 1678.

[Aaron (Awe-Sum)]

I think most people will let recent success change their opinion of teams, but I would personally put 469 above 2056. Call it Michigan bias, but as much as I respect OP for the 23 consecutive regional wins, I put more stock into 469 for their repeat appearances in the finals on Einstein.

My list looks like this:

1. 254
2. 71
3. 67
4. 469
5. 1114

[Theseusgoats]

The thing is that 71 definetly is one of the tip, if not the top team in FRC over history, but in reality, over the past 5ish years, they have been pretty poor for their championship winning standards. I mean, they failed to qualify for champs this year.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Theseusgoats

The thing is that 71 definetly is one of the tip, if not the top team in FRC over history, but in reality, over the past 5ish years, they have been pretty poor for their championship winning standards. I mean, they failed to qualify for champs this year.

The question was over ALL of FRC history. Not over recent FRC history. If all you can do is bring up the last 5 years as why they shouldn't be on the lists, when they are the ONLY 4-time Champion (1997, 2001, 2002, 2004)--and it's an exclusive club that has 3, and having more than one is considered really really good--then maybe you should put the effort into telling us what your 5+ team list is instead.

[Citrus Dad]

It's interesting the consensus among the choices.

[Lij2015]

Ya gotta have 71 at that number 1 slot, look at this stuff man: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAmAnkYDUQM

I think a team that could very well get added to the "agreed upon" section of this list in another few years is 1678 or 987. 1678 has been on Einstein all of the last three years, two of those years as a captain of the #1 seed and the other as the 1st pick and 987 is very consistent and pretty near 2056 as far as consistency goes with just not being able to have that win streak that 2056 had.

[MooreteP]

To this list, I would like to add 177, the Bobcats. Their consecutive Einstein appearances (2006 - 2011) and Champions (2007, as the 8th seeded alliance from Newton, and 2010, with 67) were quite the run.

For geographical diversity, I also agree with 111, Wildstang, and of course 71 from the Midwest. 33, 469 (their "GodBot" in Breakaway was frightening) and 67 are also tough choices.

It's a difficult choice between 118 & 148 in Texas

Florida has also given us 233, The Pink Team, 180, S.P.A.M., and 179 "Children of the Swamp. All of these are perennial contenders.

1114 spawned 2056, so I will give them the tip 'o the hat.

My final list with Geographic diversity in mind, but in no particular order:
254, 67, 177, 233, 118, and 1114 I know, it's 6, not 5.

They will all be playing matches one week from today.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by Theseusgoats

The thing is that 71 definetly is one of the tip, if not the top team in FRC over history, but in reality, over the past 5ish years, they have been pretty poor for their championship winning standards. I mean, they failed to qualify for champs this year.

Yeah, you're wrong.

Being the first team to win multiple world championships then winning 4 (including back to back) 4 years before anyone would win a second one? Being one tube away from a 5th (again before anyone else had won a second one)? 12 years after their last world championship they are STILL held up as one of the most dominant teams in FRC history.

Yeah, you're just really wrong. Normally I'm ok with whatever on these sort of discussions but any "best teams" list that doesn't include 71 is just plain missing data.

[Theseusgoats]

Hmm... This is why I try to refrain myself from commenting on Chief Delphi. I was just trying to make a comment that 71 just isn't what they used to be anymore. I didn't even say that they shouldn't make it on a top 5 list. In fact, they would probably be 2nd in mine. Truly, I respect them so much, especially as I come out of Indiana. I've played with and against them and have come to look up to them as the ideal team. With great spirit, students, mentors, and robots, they are my favorite team by far. I believe almost any Firster aspires to be like them, over anyone else. However, by commenting, I did not expect to get bombarded with negative replies and harsh PMs about how my views are stupid. I just don't understand this. You may think that I am just a regular student who doesn't know what he's talking about, but I've been a mentor/referee/volunteer who just took a break for a few years. I just wish I would be able to get some respect and at least a little bit of thoughtfulness in replying to me by at least taking the time to understand what I'm trying to say.