Each week, there are top 25 rankings for sports. In the AP Poll, highly qualified sports addicts and writers vote on who they think the top 25 teams are for each sport. This poll is similar, where highly qualified FIRST addicts vote on who they think the top 25 teams are for FRC. Voters picked teams based on success shown at competitions in the past, consistency of the team, and robot design and function. This week, six of the voters submitted complete lists, and the results are based solely on those lists. I will leave it up to the voters to make themselves known or not, but I will say that they are all knowledgeable, reputable members of ChiefDelphi. Please enjoy analyzing this Pre-season Top 25 Ranking. The next ranking will follow the build season and precede the regional competition season.
1114- The number one pick for this list and reigning world champions, it is very likely that Simbotics will return to Einstein this year and continue the dynasty.
217- One of two teams to win more than one Championship. Their robot designs seem truly flawless.
233- Still looking for their first world championship, Pink has been stopped short of it a couple times. However, they show no signs of stopping.
254- The Poofs consistently dominate regionals, not to mention their well-deserved Chairman’s in 04.
67- How do you improve on a Championship and a Championship Chairman’s Award in the same year? Nevertheless, do not put another Championship win past them. Don’t believe it? Go watch some IRI tapes. This team is on a HOT streak.
330- Recent IRI Champs and 05 Champions, this team Keeps It Stupidly Simple.
71- A legend. Never bet against Beatty.
968- RAWC has a reputation for victory and nice robots, but so does 254…
111- The other big name in programming and design; a true powerhouse.
148- This championship team designs consistent, amazing drivetrains and well-build robots.
1024- Kil-a-bytes got what they came for last year. Top-notch programming and a simple design carried this team to regional championships and a spot on Einstein last year, and we’ll all hope they only do better next year.
365- This Chairman’s Award winning team literally stands out at competitions.
16- When I first got sucked into FIRST they were a good team with a great past. It looks like they’re making a comeback, so watch for the Bomb Squad.
987- The High Rollers rounded out the IRI winning alliance. They had a great year, and they’ll hopefully do just as well this year.
25- Undefeated in 06 and tough as heck to beat otherwise, contribute it to a beast drive system every year and consistent design.
2056- Another Canadian powerhouse. Let’s hope the keep it up.
103- Cybersonics teamed up with 25 to win NJ, and later won Monty Madness. They also took home some other trophies; they make a good, profitable pick for FF.
27- RUSH had a so-so year this year, but are consistent each year and build good robots.
45- Technokats made this list for obvious reasons. When have they not built innovative, award winning robots? This team truly represents the phrase “Oldies but Goodies.”
1902- Way to go in 2007. Their previous year was only slightly disappointing, but certainly nothing to cry over. Watch for them!
842- Of course the 2008 Chairman’s Award winners made this list! Be sure to watch for their Chairman’s Award Video!
33- Killer Bees consistently built beautiful robots that win, although last year wasn’t their best.
1625- Winnovation. Not only does the name sound cool, it is also the truth. Finalists at IRI and beasts at Colorado, their innovative robot from last year brought them back into the spotlight.
39- 39th Aero. If you remember the Gila Monsters(I lost my 64 button:( ), you understand who they are and why they’re so great.
177- Bobcat Robotics is a strong team, but not quite at “powerhouse” status. But hey, 25th is nothing to complain about.
Umm…I’d fight for 1126 to get any of those spots. Especially looking at the 25th team. (Eventhough 1126 would be waayy above that) Not to mention 1124. Uberbots pwn.
And arguable are the spots given to 842…you forgot team 47 as well. Also if ur going by consistancy I don’t think 1902 should be up there. Where are 343, 342, and 1251 at?
Ooh will there be computers involved, so we can all endlessly complain about how they can’t take the intangibles into account and then demand a new type of ranking system. (Sorry, couldn’t resist)
This is a great idea though, hope you guys keep it running all the way through Championship - now if you could only get the AP to publish it…
-Greg
Edit: Also, the way you typed it, you made it sound like there are more than 6 people in the queue for making these picks. If you don’t mind me asking, how many people do you have lined up to vote for the future? Just curious.
1124 actually just missed the list. I completely cut off any other teams that recieved votes if they weren’t in the top 25. There were 51 teams that recieved votes, so 26 teams didn’t make this list.
Every team starts at a level of 0 and works their way to the top. While I whole-heartedly agree that there are teams with vast advantages and previous performance does usually mean an equal chance of continuing those those advantages, I think the reasoning for the teams you have above is not the correct reasoning for a list of this kind.
I suggest next time displaying more data and information.
TBH, the teams on this list are all great role models, but I’ll wager some Krispy Kremes that by the end of the season (post season ranking?) less than 1/2 of these teams will still be on this list.
Is this really a good idea? What rookie teams going to think when they see a list of the top 25 teams? I can see some teams getting discouraged because everyone has already decided who they think will win even before the season starts.
Exactly! Who a select few THINKS will win. It’s up to everyone else to prove them wrong! Don’t let this list discourage you, let it motivate you to become the best (or try your hardest in the attempt).
Such as? You want more data and information, but what kind?
I don’t understand what you mean by each team starting at zero and working their way to the top. Does the AP poll (or any other poll) do that? If so, which one? That is what this is based on.
No 177 would be switched up to a higher spot and replaced in that spot would be another team. But yea, who were the “highly qualified” that did the voting?
btw, Won’t be online later so Happy New Year everyone!
The same thing that the 316 NCAA Division I College Basketball teams that don’t make the Top 25 think? These teams, just like the preseason Top 25 in College Basketball t is mostly based on past performance and this list will likely look very different by the end of the season. As Alec said, who people THINK will win has no bearing on who will actually win.
Just like the Top 25 for College Basketball and Football these lists may be based on slightly different things for each different voter. You just get the rankings as decided by the voters, there isn’t really any other data other than vote totals.
Exactly, this is the same way the preseason college polls work. By the end of the year it will likely look very different.
I would say this poll is just like the preseason NCAA football poll… subject to change greatly by the end of the season At least we won’t be using this poll to try and crown our champion…
Then there are teams that fit the criteria better that were left off in favor of teams that seem to only fit the list because they are popular. What is a better model of consistency than winning 3 straight divisions or having one hugely successful year? What is a better measure of robot design, having your design copied by ~20 other teams in first or having an unsuccessful copy of that robot? What about the team that has won IRI the most, are they consistent? What about a team that has beaten the number one team on this list every time they have played them. There are teams that fit each of the first criteria that were not on this list for completely unknown reasons. PM me, and I will give you the teams that I think this list is missing. Also, i don’t want to sound like i am slighting any team on this list, there are teams on this list that I like a lot, but they do not fit the criteria given as well as other teams.
I think they should do this for every team and then do a bowl system like the NCAAF do. Put each state into its own division, do regionals throughout the state and then set up “bowl games” in atlanta and the best 6 picked by the Head Committee at FIRST plays in the Championship match
Lets not jump on the negatives on this list too much. I believe the goal here is to make FIRST more similar to sports, and I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing (I know others may disagree). The second goal is to have a fun consensus of who our role model teams are; who should my team try to be more like.
The thing about any preseason poll, is that it is a popularity contest and based off of information that we have from previous seasons.
That also brings the point of “how do you measure best team”?
Regardless the discussion, we are unaware any answers until we at least know the competition, and see a few weeks of matches.
The reason there are teams missing is because the “consensus” is based off of the opinions of 6 people, and statistics teaches us that is too small of a sample size to represent the population of opinions of the FIRST community. Each opinion is biased toward local teams.
I don’t think anyone can fault that the opinion that these 25 are excellent teams, and if you were to only have a limit of 25, there will always be arguments for those that did not make the list. I would argue for team 359 the Hawaiian kids and 476 the Wildcats from Oklahoma.
How about we steer this conversation in a productive manner. Lets perhaps figure out what conditions would make this idea not a popularity contest.
We all know the top juggernaut teams. If we could figure out which weeks they play, then perhaps a ranking beginning after their first competitions would be okay. The BCS doesn’t attempt to rank teams until after at least a 3rd of the way through the season. What other suggestion can we come up with?
At least we won’t be using this poll to try and crown our champion…