Who plays better defense, Midwest or Northeast?

[Andy Grady]

Originally Posted by JVN

Hmmmm...
Every time I read this it just gets me thinking.

Grady, how can you claim "defense" as a New England thing?
My "Top Three Defensive Robots" are ALL from the midwest... (it was shocking realization.)

In chronological order...

Technokat 1999 - Mean Treads, Mean Stiffarm, Puck Pwned
The mighty TKO struck terror into the hearts of FIRSTers everywhere. They could outpush almost anyone, and they certainly were able to hold their own on the puck. They're weapon of choice? A turreting, multi-jointed stiff arm. Were it not for a broken wire, 45 may have been the first team to win consecutive championships. (45 - 1999, They settled for the silver.)

Wildstang 2003 - The Ultimate Swerving Wedge
I saw robots bounce off of these guys left and right. In the year of tough drivetrains, this machine almost always stood it's ground. Though many of the "brick on wheels" robots from this year could be considered defensive, Stang certainly was a cut above. (111 - National Champion 2003)

Martian 2004 - "Who wants to play?"
Anyone who saw them knows what I'm talking about. They're play certainly carried them to the top. I won't ellaborate... but if you were there, you know. (494 - National Champion 2004)

I suppose good cases could be made for other robots... but these three just take the cake. My personal vision of hell involves 111-2003 with 45-1999's arm on top.

I guess those midwesterners do know a thing or two about defense...
I shudder to think what a defensive robot coming from Hammond would look like...

-JV

Very easy answer to all of these John.

1. I have always considered the Technokats a Northeast team trapped in the midwest. Baker and crew have always been defensive minded, and they had to be growing up in a time where defense was extremely important (pre-alliance era). In other words...the Technokats are defensive because they are one of the original teams.

2. Was Stack Attack not king of the hill in disguise? Stack Attack isn't an example of Wildstang building a defensive robot for the sake of being defensive...its a case of building a defensive robot because it was flat out how you won the game.

3. You got me there... exception to the rule.


I urge you to find time to watch both regionals and compare. If the New England Regional and Granite State regional, as well as Midatlantic aren't more defensive oriented to the naked eye, then apparently I've missed something in the last 12 years. I would go as far to say for every defensive robot you name in the midwest, I could probably name 3 in New England...flat out. Fact of the matter is you will find that Midwest competitions are extremely passive...it is score score score...and I'm willing to admit...it has been very successful for them. When you take a midwest team out of its element, and stick them in the northeast...toast...(excluding 1998, where defense was more of a detriment than anything else).

The only question left...how will the NERDS change that?

-Andy Grady

NERD...We will be heard