E-Daddy

Hopefully this attempt by DCI at an "Honor" group will not fall as woefully short as the "Honor Corps" joke from the mid 2000's.

I got invoiced for the DVD's too. Does that mean they're on there way soon as well?

Drum Corps HAS become very theatrical in recent years. Look at 2008 Phantom in which theatrics served them well, however their 2009 show that appeared to rely heavily on theatrics again, failed them. Look at some of the 2009 shows - Boston's show was heavily influenced by the provocative dancer/color guard, BD's reliance on the guard for their theme - there are many others to cite, but you get the idea. The point is that drum corps has always had a theatrical element to it, some years it was more dominant, some years less. The key is the integration of ALL elements of the corps - brass, percussion, guard, as well as the integration of the theme into a visually pleasing and satisfying show. Just because this is "Drum and Bugle Corps" doesn't exclude guards. Do we need to rename the activity Drum and Bugle and Guard Corps? I think not.

Until the judging community actually adds a "degreee of difficulty" factor, the corps that execute their program, easy or difficult, the best will get the highest scores.

DCI, in conjunction with the Corps, set the schedule for the following year. So, NO, it IS up to DCI, not the corps with their unilateral decisions.

Historically, Crusaders have not fared well this decade. once Championship week started. I recall that once Championship week started, Boston has dropped in score and placement as the week went by. I would be shocked if Boston pulled into anything other than a 8-10 position come Saturday.

Housing was one iof the reasons, IMHO, that California got just the one year for finals. Schools in California are sooooo uptight about "someone using their facilities", even though they are public facilities, that orgainzations don't even ask. If housing was truly one of the considerations for finals being in Indy for 10 years, and it's fallen apart, then shame on DCI. If, on the other hand, it wasn;t a consideration, then shame on DCI again. Having finals at the same place form many years has the ability for that organization (DCI) to "wear out their welcome". And we're only in the second year of this (although last year it got moved to Bloomington. I dread the attitude of Indy schools in year 7 or 8 of this "partnership".

A random draw for performance would conceivably "force" fans to actually show up at the beginning of the show, especially of one of the more hightly ranked corps went on very early, instead of the stands filling up halfway through the performances.

If this is such a big deal, have one of the Open Class Corps Directors put a motion in the winter meetings for this to occur next year. If no Open Class Director puts in a motion, you have your answer. It might be the fans choice, but not the directors choice. Or conversely, there should be a strong lobby effort that is on=-going with Dan Acheson - BUT the support of the Open Class Corps is critical. Personally, I have mixed feelings. Why should an OC corps reap the benefits or participating in a WC event, when they knew the ground rules going in. On the other hand, if there was no direct financial benefit to the OC corps, then I say set some criteria, let them go on first, and let the cards fall where they may.

Nice - except Blue Stars skipped this show tonight according to DCI!

I like the Cavaliers in the 2nd position, but don't count out SCV. With the new ending, and possibly a few more tricks up their sleeves, they are quite close to second. Crown had a "mid-season" lull, but I think they are back on track. The Cadets show bores me. Don't get me wrong, they play well, and I like their old-school approach again, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them end up in 5th.

Perhaps they "make it look east" because they are very talented, prepared, professional, etc. Did Michael Jordan ever make playing basketball look difficult?

Are the other corps "improving " faster than BD, or are there scores just going up faster (perhaps because BD is closer to 100 than hey are)? I suspect the latter. I think BD is still the corps to beat. Hopefully it's not a repeat of last year when the title was stolen from them.

This was also re-hashed ad-naseum a few years ago for Academy, which was a re-hash of the PC model. Whatever works for each corps is what is "fair". Like it or not, each corps has they own unique circumstances they need to operate under in order to be successful according to their own constraints and restrictions. Hope they do as well as their system allows them to be!

1 91.4 Blue Devils 2 89.75 Cavaliers 3 89.55 Cadets 4 89.15 Crown 5 87.8 Vanguard 6 86.5 Bluecoats 7 84.65 Blue Stars 8 84.25 Phantom 9 84.2 Crusaders 10 82.2 Glassmen 11 81.8 Blue Knights 12 79.6 Troopers 13 79.1 Colts 14 77.1 Madison 15 76.3 Crossmen 16 75.9 Academy 17 75.15 Spirit 18 73.05 PC 19 72.75 Mandarins 20 69.8 Pioneer 21 68.1 Cascades

Cadets can sure play, but I'm really bored by their show

SA Lineup - Based on average of Dallas and Houston scores last two night. 1 BD 91.2 2 Cavaliers 89.625 3 Cadets 89.175 4 Crown 88.6 5 SCV 86.5 6 Bluecoats 85.75 7 Blue Stars 83.95 8 Phantom 83.8 9 Crusaders 83.75 10 BK 81.825 11 Glassmen 81.45 12 Colts 78.075 13 Troopers 77.825 14 Scouts 75.8 15 Academy 75.025 16 Spirit 74.975 17 Crossmen 74.4 18 PC 72.05 20 Mandarins 70.925 19 Pioneer 69.575 21 Cascades 66.35

SA Lineup - Based on average of Dallas and Houston scores last two night. 1 BD 91.2 2 Cavaliers 89.625 3 Cadets 89.175 4 Crown 88.6 5 SCV 86.5 6 Bluecoats 85.75 7 Blue Stars 83.95 8 Phantom 83.8 9 Crusaders 83.75 10 BK 81.825 11 Glassmen 81.45 12 Colts 78.075 13 Troopers 77.825 14 Scouts 75.8 15 Academy 75.025 16 Spirit 74.975 17 Crossmen 74.4 18 PC 72.05 20 Mandarins 70.925 19 Pioneer 69.575 21 Cascades 66.35

ba bump

I agree, Troopers are probably the exception, but they also have the one intangible that none of the other corps have, and that's history. They've been around for a LONG time, and really set the standard "back in the day". In the early 70's, everyone wanted to be like that corps from "way out West". They created strong traditions, a strong following, and an emotional bond to them that none of the recently departed corps could have had. And that's why I think that once Troopers prove over the course of a few years that they are "here to stay", they will become one of those corps that finish in spots 10-15 year in and year out. Unfortunately for the other departed corpos, it takes time to create that unique identity, and most of them departed before they could accomplish that.

My bad for forgetting Southwind. Perhaps they enter back into the fray next year?

How about this for a possible solution. You want to see a near-final performance? Go to Quarterfinals in the theatre. Pay your $15. QTRs are not that different (IMHO) than Finals (kind of like Game 5 vs Game 7 of the World Series). Yes, there is more excitement in Finals than Qtrs, but they are quite similar. If you "Have" to see Finals, go to INDY, or get the DVD's.

With all this talk of the resurgence of the Troopers this year, how would some of the other recently departed corps do this year if they had been able to hang on? I'm really referring to corps like The Magic, Esperanza, Kiwanis Kavaliers, Capital Regiment (although they are back in a lower division this year). I really think that Magic and Esperanza had the POTENTIAL to be moving up as does Cap Reg. However, it appear the management of the corps did them in - not the kids. With sufficient financial back (which is always a big IF), I think these three corps would all be competing for a position somewhere in semifinals,perhaps even pushing for a finals spot, however, unfiortunately, I think Kiwanis would still be in the lower echelons of the World Class corps. What do y'all think?

Anyone have any insight into where the corps will be Thursday and Friday nights for the Friday and Saturday shows in Colorado? E-daddy

I think what you found was the trailer for the April show, The Countdown. Typically the top 15-18 corps are featured, with the remaining shows featuring highlights.