1996 DCI Finals

[vhsmbdm]

Today, while watching my Best of the 90s VHS tape, a thought struck me, "What happened in 1996 after the first ever tie for 1st place? What was the atmosphere like on finals night? Did anyone have the thought in their head, immediately after phantom's performance, that they may have a shot at 1st?"

Basically I just want to know, how did everyone react, both those in attendance at finals, and those who weren't. Were there boos, was there insane celebration?

... also. Does anyone know how to come get a hold of a video of retreat from '96? I do not own any VHS finals other than the one listed above. Was retreat and the reading of scores placed on the finals tapes?

Thanks

[Galen]

Today, while watching my Best of the 90s VHS tape, a thought struck me, "What happened in 1996 after the first ever tie for 1st place? What was the atmosphere like on finals night? Did anyone have the thought in their head, immediately after phantom's performance, that they may have a shot at 1st?"

Basically I just want to know, how did everyone react, both those in attendance at finals, and those who weren't. Were there boos, was there insane celebration?

... also. Does anyone know how to come get a hold of a video of retreat from '96? I do not own any VHS finals other than the one listed above. Was retreat and the reading of scores placed on the finals tapes?

Thanks

"In second place, which is actually a tie.... <rest is inaudible due to the audience going ape-##### while Phantom's staff jumps up and down behind their block>

[chris ncsu]

"In second place, which is actually a tie.... <rest is inaudible due to the audience going ape-##### while Phantom's staff jumps up and down behind their block>

The rest is...'for first, with a score of blah blah....alphabetically (very clever, Crocker!)...The Blue Devils....and PHANTOM RRREGIMENT!'

[ST_Lawson]

"In second place, which is actually a tie.... <rest is inaudible due to the audience going ape-##### while Phantom's staff jumps up and down behind their block>

Yea, that's pretty much how I remember it, except I was able to hear "which is actually a tie for first place....." then I couldn't really make out the rest.

I also remember there was a lot of looking around at each other in disbelief trying to figure out what had just happened.

I remember that it seemed like something was weird, the build-up to the scores took longer, and there were show personnel and a couple of corps directors running around the front sideline trying to figure out what was going on too.

From what I heard (I don't know if this is what actually happened, could just be a rumor), the corps directors of Phantom and BD were brought into a room with the show officials and told that there was a tie. They were told that they had a choice, they could take the tie, or use the GE visual (I think) score as a tiebreaker. They chose to take the tie as is, but if they had taken the tiebreaker, Phantom Regiment would have won their only championship outright. Remember, I don't know if this happened, I have no verifiable evidence, it's just what I heard the next season. Maybe someone else has more info?

[MJN]

Yea, that's pretty much how I remember it, except I was able to hear "which is actually a tie for first place....." then I couldn't really make out the rest.

I also remember there was a lot of looking around at each other in disbelief trying to figure out what had just happened.

I remember that it seemed like something was weird, the build-up to the scores took longer, and there were show personnel and a couple of corps directors running around the front sideline trying to figure out what was going on too.

From what I heard (I don't know if this is what actually happened, could just be a rumor), the corps directors of Phantom and BD were brought into a room with the show officials and told that there was a tie. They were told that they had a choice, they could take the tie, or use the GE visual (I think) score as a tiebreaker. They chose to take the tie as is, but if they had taken the tiebreaker, Phantom Regiment would have won their only championship outright. Remember, I don't know if this happened, I have no verifiable evidence, it's just what I heard the next season. Maybe someone else has more info?

That would be cool to know for sure if that really happened. 96 seems like it was so long ago now.

[PR_ducky]

I was on staff at Regiment in 96. To understand what a shock it was that there was a tie you have to put that whole week in context.

The last show before DCI week Regiment finished .7 behind BD.

We had been creeping up on them all week and it seemd we had finally closed the gap.

One of the HS kids I taught was in BDs colorguard and said that we (Regiment) would win for sure)

Come Thursday night and Quarterfinals and Regiment finishes 4th, 3.7 points behind BD. (Cadets and Cavies)

Friday night we finished 3rd, 1.4 behind BD (and cadets)

We practiced in the dark and rain late friday night and figured we were in the top 3

We had a killer run on Saturday at finals.

During retreat they announce caption awards in between the scores.

When it was announced we won GE we knew we were in the running.

Contrary to popular belief there was not a tie breaker.

Both corps scored equal and were Champions.

To be honest the kids didn't care. Both corps cheered on each others victory runs.

One of my favorite pictures of all time is still hanging on my wall.

Its the baritone sections of both PR and BD in a big pile with smiles a mile wide.

Would it have been nice to win it outright and not have to share a championship?

Sure, but having marched as a member of 89 Regiment and just missing out ona title, we were happy to get it, even if it was a tie. And the BD members I talked with that night were just as happy.

I personally believe that tie breakers should never be used.

If it HAS to be settled, bring both corps out and let them run again, be judged and let that decide it.

(happened once in the 80s at Midwest with Regiment and Scouts)

If after a second run they are still tied then let it go.

I really think it would have been criminal to announce a tie then say one corps gets it because they scored higher in this caption or that. The tie results from one corps being better at one aspect than the other, and the other corps balancing that out in other areas. Its wrong to say one area is more important than another.

At any rate, what a spectacular night that was. I will never forget it.

[MJN]

b**bs - Wow. Thanks for that!!

[Keith Laubhan]

I personally believe that tie breakers should never be used...

...I really think it would have been criminal to announce a tie then say one corps gets it because they scored higher in this caption or that. The tie results from one corps being better at one aspect than the other, and the other corps balancing that out in other areas. Its wrong to say one area is more important than another.

Word... some captions are more important than others by virtue of being worth a higher percentage of the total score. If that many judges, working independently of each other, total a tie score, I think it should be left at that. As much as I enjoy the competitive aspect of drum corps, I think it's a shame that a corps today can essentially be stripped of a title because a few crowds got their panties in a bunch back in 96, 99, and 2000... I realize that it is a rule that the member corps imposed on themselves, and I respect that, I just think it's a shame.

To me, it would be like having a dead heat in a race, but losing because your shoes aren't as shiny as the other racer.

[Michael Boo]

I went down to the field, where former BD director Mike Moxley told me, "This is great. Twice the number of kids get to go home Champions."

The neatest thing was seeing each corps on the sidelines cheering on the other co-champion and cheer most enthusiastically.

[gjdavistuba]

I would love to see a 3-way tie at Finals. Then 3 times the kids go home as champions. Haha.