idea: a semi-official coaches poll

FIRST General Forum
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Posted by Ken Patton, Engineer on team #65, The Huskie Brigade, from Pontiac Northern High School and GM Powertrain.

Posted on 4/3/99 8:03 AM MST

Here’s an idea that could be used by one of the teams that would like to build their website up and generate some traffic. How about a semi-official ‘coaches poll’ that ranks the teams based on the opinions of one rep (not necessarily a coach) from each of the teams. You could have a deadline date for voting, have a way to make sure the voters are legit, post the votes in public, post the top 20 teams, etc.

This is something that seems to generate a lot of enthusiasm in the sports world. Perhaps it would do the same thing inside and outside the FIRST community.

You could have a pre-season poll, a post regionals poll, and a post-season poll.

If it works well, you could start to use it as a semi-official polling place for questions like the one that was posed to us by Dean at the Great Lakes Regional.

Just an idea - I’m hoping one of you super-motivated webmasters will run with it :)). Any volunteers?

Ken

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Posted by Jon, Engineer on team #190, Gompei, from Mass Academy of Math and Science and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Posted on 4/3/99 10:11 AM MST

In Reply to: idea: a semi-official coaches poll posted by Ken Patton on 4/3/99 8:03 AM MST:

:
: Here’s an idea that could be used by one of the teams that would like to build their website up and generate some traffic. How about a semi-official ‘coaches poll’ that ranks the teams based on the opinions of one rep (not necessarily a coach) from each of the teams. You could have a deadline date for voting, have a way to make sure the voters are legit, post the votes in public, post the top 20 teams, etc.

: This is something that seems to generate a lot of enthusiasm in the sports world. Perhaps it would do the same thing inside and outside the FIRST community.

: You could have a pre-season poll, a post regionals poll, and a post-season poll.

: If it works well, you could start to use it as a semi-official polling place for questions like the one that was posed to us by Dean at the Great Lakes Regional.

: Just an idea - I’m hoping one of you super-motivated webmasters will run with it :)). Any volunteers?

: Ken

Interesting… i think this could be a way to increase media involvement. If any teams haven’t already spoken with their local papers and tv stations and gotten some air time to increase awareness of their team, you should.
This poll idea sounds like something that could help out ESPN when they do these robotics specials, it would help outsiders know how teams are doing and tell apart the established powerhouses, the underdogs, and the up and comers.
The only sports model that i’ve ever been able to fit FIRST into has been NASCAR racing where you have season rankings (Avg QM Pts) and you know who’s at the top but they’re not guaranteed to win, a mechanical failure (tire blowout for NASCAR :: anything in FIRST, stress fractures, dead batteries, et al) can seriously set back a team due to the time issues of the game.

A poll like this could have info like the QM stats from regionals (if possible), but it’d need to house some specs on robots and useful ones at that. Not simply size and weight, but like design concept and special features because this game thrives on the ingenuity of the teams and that is what makes everyone a winner like Dean&Woody say.

It’d be a big job that would be be cool to see happen and it would help reach out to those that aren’t as immersed in the game as we are.

I’m guessing that was about 3 cents worth…
Jon

3

Posted by Nate Smith, Student on team #74, Holland FIRST Robotics, from Holland High School and Haworth, Inc…

Posted on 4/3/99 7:08 PM MST

In Reply to: Re: idea: a semi-official coaches poll posted by Jon on 4/3/99 10:11 AM MST:

: :
: : Here’s an idea that could be used by one of the teams that would like to build their website up and generate some traffic. How about a semi-official ‘coaches poll’ that ranks the teams based on the opinions of one rep (not necessarily a coach) from each of the teams. You could have a deadline date for voting, have a way to make sure the voters are legit, post the votes in public, post the top 20 teams, etc.

: : This is something that seems to generate a lot of enthusiasm in the sports world. Perhaps it would do the same thing inside and outside the FIRST community.

: : You could have a pre-season poll, a post regionals poll, and a post-season poll.
Sounds like something I can handle…i’m starting it as soon as i post this message…I’ll post again when i get it done…

Nate
: : If it works well, you could start to use it as a semi-official polling place for questions like the one that was posed to us by Dean at the Great Lakes Regional.

: : Just an idea - I’m hoping one of you super-motivated webmasters will run with it :)). Any volunteers?

: : Ken

: Interesting… i think this could be a way to increase media involvement. If any teams haven’t already spoken with their local papers and tv stations and gotten some air time to increase awareness of their team, you should.
: This poll idea sounds like something that could help out ESPN when they do these robotics specials, it would help outsiders know how teams are doing and tell apart the established powerhouses, the underdogs, and the up and comers.
: The only sports model that i’ve ever been able to fit FIRST into has been NASCAR racing where you have season rankings (Avg QM Pts) and you know who’s at the top but they’re not guaranteed to win, a mechanical failure (tire blowout for NASCAR :: anything in FIRST, stress fractures, dead batteries, et al) can seriously set back a team due to the time issues of the game.

: A poll like this could have info like the QM stats from regionals (if possible), but it’d need to house some specs on robots and useful ones at that. Not simply size and weight, but like design concept and special features because this game thrives on the ingenuity of the teams and that is what makes everyone a winner like Dean&Woody say.

: It’d be a big job that would be be cool to see happen and it would help reach out to those that aren’t as immersed in the game as we are.

: I’m guessing that was about 3 cents worth…
: Jon

4

Posted by Ken Patton, Engineer on team #65, The Huskie Brigade, from Pontiac Northern High School and GM Powertrain.

Posted on 4/5/99 1:24 PM MST

In Reply to: Now under development… posted by Nate Smith on 4/3/99 7:08 PM MST:

Way to go Nate! I’m looking forward to the day when the Detroit paper publishes the ‘FIRST Top 20, as compiled at www.hollandfirstrobotics.com.’ That’ll be a good way to get people more aware of FIRST! Do you think it belongs in the business section or the sports section??? :))

Ken

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Posted by Brandon Martus, Other on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.

Posted on 4/5/99 2:07 PM MST

In Reply to: cool! posted by Ken Patton on 4/5/99 1:24 PM MST:

Front page?

:wink:

: Way to go Nate! I’m looking forward to the day when the Detroit paper publishes the ‘FIRST Top 20, as compiled at www.hollandfirstrobotics.com.’ That’ll be a good way to get people more aware of FIRST! Do you think it belongs in the business section or the sports section??? :))

: Ken

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Posted by Raul, Engineer on team #111, Wildstang, from Rolling Meadows & Wheeling HS and Motorola.

Posted on 4/7/99 1:12 PM MST

In Reply to: cool! posted by Ken Patton on 4/5/99 1:24 PM MST:

Ken, Nate,

This is so cool. Do you think it will be done in time to get a pre-national poll?
This could help with scouting list priorities.

Raul

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Posted by Ken Patton, Engineer on team #65, The Huskie Brigade, from Pontiac Northern High School and GM Powertrain.

Posted on 4/7/99 4:33 PM MST

In Reply to: So cool! posted by Raul on 4/7/99 1:12 PM MST:

Raul-

Nate’s doing all of the work on this. I can’t speak for him, but I think he will be ready based on the form he had me look at. It looked pretty good to me.

Ken

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Posted by Nate Smith, Student on team #74, Holland FIRST Robotics, from Holland High School and Haworth, Inc…

Posted on 4/7/99 8:09 PM MST

In Reply to: So cool! posted by Raul on 4/7/99 1:12 PM MST:

I don’t know for sure if it will be done in time for Nationals, with only two weeks left before our team leaves, but I’m hoping to have it done by the end of this week, since I’m on spring break now…

I have the registration system done(to assure only one voice per team & to give people info on the teams), and I’m working on the team list to pick from, and the actual scoring logic that will determine the top 20(that’s what i’ve decided to start with)

Anyone have any comments or things that I should be sure to include? E-mail them to me…

I’m sure I could say more, but I have a project to finish… =)

Nate

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Posted by Mike Kulibaba, Student on team #88, TJ², from Bridgewater-Raynham Regional and Johnson and Johnson.

Posted on 4/3/99 10:11 PM MST

In Reply to: Re: idea: a semi-official coaches poll posted by Jon on 4/3/99 10:11 AM MST:

I think this is a great idea, a Top 20 is a great idea!!

Mike Kulibaba Team 88 TJ²

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