The AP polls work because the game doesn’t change from year to year and only a few members from each team change. Also, writers can evaluate recruits and make judgements based on that. So, ranks can be established at the start of the season.
They work because each team has at least one game every week (depending on the sport). There are teams who only go to one regional.
I liked the idea at first, but after thinking about it, it doesn’t seem feasible for the reasons I’ve listed above.
How can you make a post ship list not including a single team that was at the only scrimmage utilizing an official FRC competition field and control system?
Out of 40+ teams at the Suffield Shakedown some of whom have powerhouse reps I would expect to see at least one here…
I would say that his list is about right. Based on previous years achievements and current video/pictures of robots, those standing are accurate. 1114, 258/968, 111, 71 will always be in the top 10 of best robots every year, atleast for “preseason” polls. These teams here ALWAYS build robots, that no matter what their objective is, that compete and WIN. I’ve been in FIRST the better part of 5 years and those 5 teams there have never failed to build an amazing robot. The reason their in the top 25 now is because they have a background of winning, and beautifully built robots.
If you want to be on the top 25, prove it. Go out there and let your robot do the talking. If your not recognized, so be it. You know your good. Your alliance will be even better when they catch you in the second round of pickings because you fell a few slots to other alliances picking “top 25” teams.
BTW, I disagree, 254 should be number 1 
Making a post-build Top 25 list without seeing half of the robots is like forecasting the weather based on what happened yesterday.
Sure, you might get it right more than half the time (Farmer’s Almanac, I’m looking at you!), but it’s genuine accuracy should be taken with a fairly large grain of salt until these teams either prove or repudiate their past record for the 2009 season.
IMHO, it’s better to be a sleeper robot coming into the first Regional competition, because it throws everyone off guard. And since this list is conspicuously absent of any of the powerhouse Northeast teams (including some who’ve made it onto Einstein more often in the past few years than most of the teams in this list) save 121, I suspect there will be a lot of sleepers this year.
But Art, all we’re good for up here is defense. 
The list I submitted included 4 northeastern teams… just because they didn’t make the top 25 doesn’t mean nobody voted for them.
I had at least one that isn’t on the list.
I noticed that 1124 was absent from the list after taking home a division champion and regional champion trophy. Also, 177 seemed to be missed even though they’ve been on Einstein the past three years and won it all one of those years.
1- 85
2- 47
3- 141
4- 217
5- 1114
6- 71
7- 74
8- 70
9- 494
10- 107
Maybe so, but we’ve also had our fair share of Einstein material the past few years that wouldn’t have made it there on defense alone.
173, 175, 176, 177, 190, 195, 1124 all come to mind.
Hey GODUX123!!!
I always liked your name you guys…very well chosen…
But isn’t it BUILT ON BRAINS…???
Haha, maybe it wasn’t clear that I was being sarcastic. Obviously I am quite familiar with my own region, so when I said that I was thinking of the rich histories we have in the Northeast (especially if you look in the 170s-190s). I’m guessing that no one who voted came from the New England (or even mid-Atlantic?) region- while all the teams on the list are truly exceptional, they seem to come from a few specific regions. It’s hard not to be biased toward your own area, though.
254 is no. 1 so far in my book.
from what I have seen, they can fill a trailer the fastest, can load well like the rest of the best teams, and drive circles around other robots.
Perhaps it was better that Travis and Kirk worked with Cory in the same shop as opposed to that long distance relationship. God knows what would happen if Dave moved there also.
Prediction: This will be their year, finally.
If 254 ends up with 968 on the same division, I’d bet they pick each other and dominate the floor. That’s a sight I only saw once in Hawaii last year and my was it soooo pretty!
I’m from Israel, and i did not put any Israeli team in that list, although i think there is one team deserving to be there.
The reason i did not put any local teams, that i know of is because i thought it won’t be fair.
these are some of the best working robots i have seen so far i might be missing some robots, so sorry if i did not add you to this list
lets see how all the robots perform in the coming weeks
234
254
1742
45
118
121
111
597
1712
Well, after week one of regionals. There were many good teams, but one of the best, if thot the best, team at MWR was 1625 and I don’t think I’ve seen them on any lists. 1114 did well, but it was proven they were stopable. From what I heard, the technokatz (sp?), team 45 I believe, seemed to fan circles around the rest. Theyve only been on a few lists also.
I think the simplicity threw most of these guys off, we may not have crazy ball paths but the balls get from our bot to the trailer just as fast as those conveyor systems, just as a blob instead of a line.
I place no importance on lists made without seeing bots perform in matches.
This list shorted us, LookingForward shorted us a bit, guess what all that does is add to the motivation and oh look, we won midwest so where’s this lists credibility now
these things generally just make those not mentioned work harder.
in other words, bulletin board matireal. you never give it out to the opposing team in sports. and well now, you don’t give it out in FIRST or else teams like 1625 will actually do what their name states… win…
edit: when are the post week one rankings coming out?.. you know, the ones we see AFTER we have seen some teams actually play the game?
Dude I have no idea how 1625 didn’t get up on the final list. Frankly idk how 180 did get up there.
Aren, you guys were on my list and will be even higher for week 1 list.