[tommytimp]

bluecoats88, on 16 March 2011 - 03:24 PM, said:

although Florida Wave only has 2 years in the top 17 it is a little misleading since both of those years were back to back 13th place finishes if I remember correctly

In 88 they finished 16th. That 87 corps was really good, though. Maybe not the most demanding show in the world, but they just kept getting cleaner and cleaner all summer. "Coconut Champagne" was a lot of fun OTL.

As to the topic, the stats say Southwind. But I marched Geneseo 83 and you will never convince me we shouldn't have made Finals. I'd imagine SWind and Squires and all the others feel that way too. (About us, I mean. Not them.)

[hostrauser]

The "Tough-Luck" Club: 13th place finishers
The Cadets (1972)
De La Salle Oaklands (1973)
Polish Falcon Cadets* (1974)
Squires* (1975)
Troopers (1976)
Anaheim Kingsmen (1977) (14th; tie for 12th)
Freelancers (1978)
Crossmen (1979)
Blue Stars (1980)
North Star (1981)
Suncoast Sound (1982)
Crossmen (1983)
Troopers (1984)
27th Lancers (1985)
27th Lancers (1986)
Florida Wave* (1987)
Dutch Boy (1988)
Dutch Boy (1989)
Blue Knights (1990)
Dutch Boy (1991)
Glassmen (1992)
Velvet Knights (1993)
Boston Crusaders (1994)
Blue Knights (1995)
Glassmen (1996)
Colts (1997)
Magic (1998)
Bluecoats (1999)
Southwind* (2000)
Spirit of Atlanta (2001)
Blue Knights (2002)
Blue Knights (2003)
Spirit of Atlanta (2004)
Colts (2005)
Colts (2006)
The Academy* (2007)
Crossmen (2008)
Colts (2009)
Colts (2010)

* Have never made Finals (surprisingly, only 5)

Tough-luck leaderboard...
5 Colts (1997, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010)
4 Blue Knights (1990, 1995, 2002, 2003)
3 Crossmen (1979, 1983, 2008)
3 Dutch Boy (1988, 1989, 1991)
2 27th Lancers (1985, 1986)
2 Glassmen (1992, 1996)
2 Spirit of Atlanta (2001, 2004)
2 Troopers (1976, 1984)

[Paisius]

John Bogenschutz, on 16 March 2011 - 09:14 AM, said:

Who are some of the best corps to never make finals? I'm not looking for a specific year (like Crossmen 79 or something like that) but corps in general that have never made finals. List your corps. I'd like to know! Thanks!

Gonna have to go with Southwind. Of course I am a little biased (as are you I imagine ).

This post has been edited by Paisius: 16 March 2011 - 08:31 PM

[mckdan]

The Offensive Lions from Canada. They always had a full corps and nice show but never made it.

[monoemono]

I'm just surprised to see that Southwind never made it in. I thought sure they had been there once or twice....

[Jeff Ream]

frazib, on 16 March 2011 - 12:56 PM, said:

Southwind 2000 -- they year they played the ballad from Legends of the Fall, which was beautiful

yep.

[skewerz]

Marauders!!!

at least their color guard.../rawr

[skajerk]

TRacer, on 16 March 2011 - 11:20 AM, said:

The Academy (they will soon, though!), Valley Fever back in the day, any North Star corps after 1980, 2-7 after 1984, Defenders, Avant Garde, Geneseo Knights were up there...you know, mostly DEAD and GONE corps.

It's always nice to see VF mentioned even if it is by a former member.

Avant Garde and Knights had some bad-### shows back in the early 80s!

This post has been edited by skajerk: 17 March 2011 - 04:19 AM

[tpt43]

Since Forida Wave has already been mentioned... Memphis Blues Brass Band.

[drumno5]

bluecoats88, on 16 March 2011 - 03:24 PM, said:

although Florida Wave only has 2 years in the top 17 it is a little misleading since both of those years were back to back 13th place finishes if I remember correctly

Riding a late season surge, Florida Wave placed 13th in '87, but dropped to around 15th or 16th in '88.

In '88 Dutch Boy placed 13th, the beginning of a spectacular run of three 13th place finishes in four years (broken up by one finals appearance, in 1990).

Like many of the corps mentioned in this thread, both FW and DB were solid, entertaining teams with distinctive identities. The activity has been diminished by the loss of groups like these from the world class arena.

Peace,

Fred O.