Chief Guns

I may be wrong, but I think what @IllianaLancerContra is saying is that if you go to just about any corps thread, WE are the ones saying that they sound better, look better, etc than the previous season. Some of it may be true, some of it may just be fluff and false hype to get the fanbase of that corps excited. Majority of us are guilty of it, including myself. You said it yourself, we haven't seen anything from any of these corps. So we go off what we think we know. We haven't seen SCV in well over 600 days. But it doesn't stop you from thinking that they will be no lower than 6th. And there is nothing wrong with thinking that, even though some may disagree.

As a Niners fan, I hate to admit this, but real recognizes real. If you are a Commanders fan, be very excited about the future. Your new QB Jayden Daniels, is the real deal. I saw alot of his games out here in SoCal. He went to Cajon High school in San Bernardino. He is legit.

Ya know that's something I have always thought about...........The Closer. We hear it every year. Someone will say "Wait till corps "Insert Name" adds the closer. Then the closer is added, and in the grand scheme of things, does little in score and/or placement. Honestly, the only shows that I can think of in the last 20 years where the closer actually made a difference in winning a title (in my opinion), is Spartacus, and Ink when BD added little Clara leading up to finals week.

Yes Ma'am! Family Day next month can't get here fast enough!

If Mandarins got 4th this year, you will see me doing somersaults around Lucas Oil lol. But yea I am with you. In order for that to happen, one of the Big Dawgs (BD/BLOO/CC/BAC) has to fall out. Those four are freaking animals, and I just can't see that happening. Crown, Bloo, and BAC had to take their lumps on the way to the top over the last 15 years or so. Mandarins will go thru the same. Like we always say, there is levels to this.

All for the Scouts having a great year. I enjoyed them alot in Indy last year.

Well I was a RDC (Recruit Division Commander) for three years at Navy Boot Camp. So I can assure you I know how to "Motivate" someone lol. But having your boy drop and give me 50 probably won't go over to well with the PC Staff LMAO. All jokes aside, pleasure is all mine to assist in any way I can. Dre did Open Class in 2022, so all the parents that lived locally came together to support the corps and look after the out of state kids. If my boy was marching out of state, I would hope someone would do the same for me.

Well my wife and I are just down the freeway from PCs camp sites. I know you are in Texas. So if your son needs anything while he is out here in SoCal, let us know. We are more than happy to help.

What I do know is the Auditionees for Mandarins this year nearly doubled from 2022-23. While I don't know how many, I do know some of the 2023 members unfortunately didn't get contracted this season, due to the talent pool increasing. That I know for a fact. My son told me last weekend when they had camp that the talent this year is absolutely insane and the corps as a whole "leveled up." He also said this year's show is definitely harder than Sinnerman, and the brass line is so much better. I will see what I can find out, but I know we have some posters in the DCP family that can probably get these numbers, if it's available.

Diamond Bar and Charter Oak is about a 45-50min drive from the crib. And Canyon Springs in Moreno Valley is 25min away. Definitely going to go check them out next month!

I am rooting so hard for PC to make finals! Do you know where they will be housing in June leading up to the season?

Personally I had no issue with where you ranked the Mandarins. You could have ranked them 105th. I only questioned your reasoning for their ranking, which is you believe the Mandarins benefitted from SCV not touring, which is not true. So let me ask you this. Spartans were the 2023 OC Champs. BDB fielded a corps, but opted not to go to finals. Should we question the Spartans Gold Medal because they didn't go head-to-head with BDB?

Thanks brother.

I think the Mandarins will challenge for 5th. Phantom and Cavaliers have that championship pedigree that can't be denied, and we know both of them will be firing on all cylinders with monster shows this summer. If SCV returns to form, buckle up. The battle for 5th is going to be epic. Honestly, I do believe 5th place is the ceiling though. I would love to put on my Mandarins Dad hat and rose-colored glasses, but there are levels to this, and I got to keep it real. They aren't ready for the "Big Four." BD, Bloo, Crown and BAC are some killers. It would take a Herculean effort to crack that top four.

Several years back, didn't the drum corps world drag Dan Potter thru the mud for disrespecting the Spartans by asking if their title has an asterisk next to it because BDB and SCVC didn't attend finals, insinuating that maybe the Spartans wouldn't have won if they had shown up? It wasn't the Spartans fault or responsibility that BDB/SCVC chose not to attend finals, regardless of the reason. Spartans went about their business, competed against who was there, and won fair and square. It's a little disrespectful to do the same to the Mandarins. They showed up, competed against who was there, and earned their placement fair and square. No excuses.

Trust me you didn't miss much lol. BD cheats. BD plays to the sheets. BD has judges on the payroll. DCI should make kids sit out 13 years if they want to switch corps, to keep them from going to BD. There. You are all caught up.

That is true Ms. Terri. My son confirmed that, along with some of the knowledgeable DCPers I mentioned in an earlier comment. A good bulk of the Mandarins performers came from Gold, and SCVC. And they got a couple from BDB as well. If anything, Mandarins stocked their cupboard with the amazing talent from the OC ranks.

Hate to say this, but if SCV beats Mandarins in June, this is only going to add fuel to this narrative. Mandarins need to come out swinging and make a statement at Mt. Sac.

Brother you speak the truth. No lies told. I am just tired of this notion that the Mandarins were only good because they benefitted from SCVs kids migrating to Sacramento last year, and now that SCV is back, Mandarins will just fall thru the floor etc. It's BS, and not true. I sincerely thought we had put this nonsense to bed last summer. (Not talking directly to you, more in general). A few DCPers with inside knowledge already confirmed that only four, maybe five kids at most jumped ship to Mandarins from Vanguard's "A" Corps last year. Whether SCV fielded a corps or not in 2023 had nothing to do with the success the Mandarins achieved. Mandarins have put in the work, J. W. Koester and his staff are building up that organization the right way, and they have earned everything they have gotten to this point. If Jersey Surf (ROOTING FOR YOU SURF!!!) was to make a historical jump in score and placement this season.......are we going to sit back and say "Oh Surf is only good because they are benefitting from the Cadets being gone, considering they are roughly in the same region?" I sure hope not.

Or another Blue Devils vs SCV "Triumph of Time" from 2017.

Thanks brother!

Gotcha! Makes sense. I will hold out on hotel rooms for a little longer. Regarding finals, I am assuming if they had to move venues, those of us that have purchased our tickets, do we get first crack at choosing seats at the new venue, wa there also a price change in the tickets? Obviously 2008 was 16 years ago and policies/rules changed alot, but how did that process work back then?