Your 2nd Predicion Thread

[HurcsGuyGD.]

Never thought Iwould find myself saying this. Coats top three. possible top two. Possible gold.

[Bob984]

I think this is going to be a wild season......there are some really good corps, and some corps have definitely stepped up from where they were before........here are my current predictions, with comments in parenthesis.....

1. Cadets........the package has it all...demand in every section, strong music which is well-written and ACCESSIBLE,

perhaps their best drumline since 2005 (which is what is going to seal the deal), and enough talent to

nail it by August.....they will come from behind late in the season to do so.....

2. Phantom.......that's right.........they are going to come on strong when they get the visual book tightened and guard work

in.....this corps can play, and have a musical package that will hang with anyone.......I think the guard will

get better, but will be what keeps them out of the winner's circle....however, that's a big variable, so if they

can make the guard hot, look out.........in 2008, I called it this early, and people laughed, as they were

losing solidly......but it happened......took until the last show, though.........

3. Crown.......very musical, with no weaknesses.......at the end, though, they don't quite generate enough excitement in the

effect caption.......

4. Blue Devils..........yes, they are very talented in all segments, and will execute quite well. However, the musical

arrangements have serious continuity issues which limit their effect.........this caption will hinder their

chance at winning.........however, musical continuity is a musical aspect that is constantly ignored

by the judging community, so if it is ignored yet again, who knows.............

5. Blue Stars.............another sleeper.......I was floored when I saw them on FN this week. They have stepped to the plate

with this one. Great brass sound and scoring....Aungst has written a top-shelf perc. book for them, and

it looks like they have the horses to pull it off, the visual package is solid, and they have a huge amount

of effect and the book is musical.

For me, this corps is the surprise of the year....it reminds me of Crown when they first started to

contend, and in any other year this corps would be pulling a ton of upsets......

6. Bluecoats...........another corps who has stepped it up. Strong in all captions.........I think the arrangements are good,

but perhaps not quite as musical as some above them. It kind of reminds me of the "Criminal" year,

when they were well prepared and beat everyone, only to have a disappointing finish. Still, a very fine

corps, though.

7. Cavaliers..........my evaluation of them is strange this year. Musically, I think there is far more risk in this program

then they have been doing, and finally some good dynamic impact. That said, there are musical

execution problems. Perhaps scarier is that in one week I hear all of the same stuff that I heard

opening night. If they weren't addressed in order to finish the drill, ok, but it's not showing up in the

score just yet. I think they also have musical continuity issues. Some fine moments, especially the

ending of the one piece where the hornline is laying it out complete with screaming soprano soloists.

They could finish higher IF they nail execution in all captions, but I don't think the programs in front

of them are going to falter.

8. Santa Clara.......they will perform across the board, but not as good as others.......I understand the Bartok, but

I just don't find the musical package as generating much excitement. Visually, the drill is good, and

the possible strength in that caption may move them up, but there are no weak drills in front of them,

either...........

9. Madison Scouts.............great music, a well-coordinated drill, great execution, and over the top effect put Madison

not only back in finals, but comfortably. I think they wrote a show that is perfect for their

entrance back into finals, and did not write anything that they can't play/march. Difficulty will

keep them from challenging, but it is possible they could catch a few if they don't bring their

A games......great to see them back this way.

10. Blue Knights...........really solid arrangements this year, and they will perform well. It's a shame that they have

a MUCH better package, but will still be in the bottom 3rd of finals....just a tough year, but this

show will be enjoyed.....

11. Boston..............it is totally unfair for me to rank this corps at all at this point, as I haven't seen them.....I'm just taking

a guess, and things could be totally different after I see them..........

12. Colts.............they win the battle for finals this year with an accessible book, adequate demand, and a pleasing overall

show.......yes, they had typical June execution problems at Normal, but they have the horses to perform

their program.

13. Academy.........I am taking a guess here, as I haven't seen them.............I think they will be strong musically......

if they sell their program and perform in all captions, finals is not out of the question, and I will know

much more after seeing/hearing them.......not really fair to evaluate them at this pont......

14. Troopers..........early season execution hurts them for part of the season. I think they will make a run, and who knows,

but they simply do not have the accessible book that they had last year. Good impact, and this corps will

work hard, so they can't be counted out.....

15. Glassmen..........drumline and guard will be strong..........horn execution, combined with very fragmented brass

arrangements will do them in..........

16. Spirit.............Arrangements are ok, but not strong enough to move them much.....they could finish as high as

14th or as low as 17th, but I don't think the musical package is strong enough to challenge for finals....

17. Crossmen........it's not really fair for me to judge them, as I haven't seen/heard them yet, and my opinion could

change big-time. Metheny has worked great for the Crossmen in the past. However, they are also

challenging themselves to match the arrangement quality of that past, and I am not certain how they

will fare there. However, no further judgement here until I see/hear the product....I will see them this

week.

18. Pacific Crest..........good overall corps, but just don't have enough to propel them into semis......

19. Jersey Surf...........young corps with some good ideas

20. Teal Sound......ditto

21. Seattle Cascades...........they will make some steady progress and produce an entertaining corps........

22. Mandarins.........competent, but need a stronger musical package to move up..........

23. Pioneer................always good to see them out there

Notes....EIGHTH PLACE could be 94 this year.....ELEVENTH could break 90......it will take an 86 or 87 to get in.....13-17 will not be far off the pace

GB

[general_tsos_chicken2]

1. Cadets

2. BD

3. Crown

4. Cavaliers

5. Phantom Regiment

6. Santa Clara

7. Blue Stars or Bloo

8. Blue Stars or Bloo

9. Madison

10. Boston

11. Blue Knights

12. Glassmen

Edited June 27, 2010 by general_tsos_chicken2

[Carolina09Spirit]

Looks to me as if 10-15 is gonna be the biggest toss up. You've got Glassmen, Blue Knights, Spirit, Madison, Crossmen, Troopers, and Boston Crusaders fighting for the last few spots in the Top 12. I don't think anyone ever knows who's gonna place where in 10-15. Not that the 14 and 15 matter, but it's still always competitive. Personally I hope Spirit gets back in the Top 12....it's time they show out!

[BRASSO]

Looks to me as if 10-15 is gonna be the biggest toss up. You've got Glassmen, Blue Knights, Spirit, Madison, Crossmen, Troopers, and Boston Crusaders fighting for the last few spots in the Top 12. I don't think anyone ever knows who's gonna place where in 10-15. Not that the 14 and 15 matter, but it's still always competitive. Personally I hope Spirit gets back in the Top 12....it's time they show out!

Jersey Surf, Mandarins, and Pacific Crest ( 62 range ) are all within 5 points of Crossmen and Spirit, Colts ( 67 range). Troopers got a 69 last nght. Spirit, Troopers, Crossmen, Colts, are right now closer in range to Mandarins, Jersey Surf and Pacific Crest than to Blue Knights and Madison Scouts that are at 72 and 73 range. And Boston,at 75 in 1st show out, are only 2 tenths out from Cavaliers recent 75 score... and others. I mean anything can happen up or down, as it's WAY too early to speculate, but the listing of Corps here in your grouping could, and probably will, change. The key to look at right now are the Visual and GE scores. The execution captions will rise. But you need to have the show vehicle in the eyes of the judges to get the maximum edge. Anyway, I expect some surprises before all is said and done this year... maybe a few more surprises than we usually get.

Edited June 27, 2010 by BRASSO

[crfrey71]

1. Crown

2. Cadets

3. Bluecoats

4. SCV

5. Blue Devils

6. Blue Stars

7. Madison Scouts

8. Phantom Regiment

9. Cavaliers

10. Blue Knights

11. Boston Crusaders

12. Troopers

[ohHAIitsNovak]

1. BD

2. Crown

3. Bluecoats

4. SCV

5. Phantom Regiment

6. Cavies

7. BAC

8. Blue Stars

9. Blue Knights

10. Glassmen

11. Crossmen

12. Scouts

[BRASSO]

1. Crown

2. Cadets

3. Bluecoats

4. SCV

5. Blue Devils

6. Blue Stars

7. Madison Scouts

8. Phantom Regiment

9. Cavaliers

10. Blue Knights

11. Boston Crusaders

12. Troopers

That sure would be something else among the top 7 finishers, there was no Illinois based Corps. We'd have to go back decades to find that. But right now, anything is possible.

Edited June 27, 2010 by BRASSO

[Demosthenes]

I agree!

Although, surprisingly, I do like the Cadets show. I know the premise is kinda baked, but it's very effective.

We went to the Normal show last night. And I have watched every video up on Fannetwork at least 5 times. So if I were guessing to finals week as this point, not having seen anything of West Coast corps yet, other than a couple of phone calls for run throughs, I would guess this for my predictions.

1. Cavaliers(I know they came in 3rd last night, but this show has possibly their best drill and guard since Frameworks. And it has as much fan appeal as 007 and Machine. They had 4 standing ovations during this show. And while it is dirty at this point, I think it still probably should have beaten Crown and Cadets last night.

2. Blue Devils-haven't seen them yet.

3. Cadets or SCV

4. Cadets or SCV

5. Carolina Crown

6. Blue Stars(If they completely change their 1st minute and a half of thier show which comes off as awkward)

7. Bluecoats or Madison Scouts(Strongest they have looked since 99)

8. Bluecoats or Madison Scouts

9. Phantom Regiment

10. Boston Crusaders

11. Blue Knights

12. Colts

13. Glassmen

14. Academy

15. Spiirit

16. Crossmen

17 Pacific Crest

18. Troopers

19. Jersey Surf

20. Mandarins

21. Pioneer

22. Teal Sound

23. Cascades

[contrajedi8]

1. Blue Devils

2. Cadets

3. Crown

4. Santa Clara Vanguard

5. Bluecoats

6. Cavaliers

7. Blue Stars

8. Phantom

9. Boston

10. Blue Knights

11. Madison

12. Glassmen

13. Troopers

14. The Academy

15. Colts

16. Crossmen

17. Spirit

18. Pacific Crest

19. Mandarins

20. Jersey Surf

21. Teal Sound

22. Pioneer

23. Cascades

Edited June 27, 2010 by contrajedi8