prodigal bari

You'll be okay.... But after watching the show for the first time; I was thinking 'man, this is ultimate OLD SCHOOL!' Now I have to watch it again to catch all the references I missed the first time!

Maybe so; but you do not see the staff/corps sitting in the back sidelines anymore...because there is increasingly more room on the front.

CG will not overcome the serious design probs Colts have right now...and it is too late to fix those problems. (Although you are right about it being a factor w/Madison and Finals.)

Sorry to disagree..but I did not see any advantages Colts have this year over Mad or Xmen...a lot of the score differences have to do with proper corps placement rather than any percieved moves by corps itself. I like the Colts a lot; but their show design is probably the most antiquated of all the open corps today (which I personally do not understand..especially after last year)...and they are still having performance problems with their book. They might actually drop a couple of placements between now and Worlds.

OK...aren't you being a little hard on Boo? I would be drinking if a corps was literally blowing the house down.... ACTUALLY....there are structural designs that take into effect sonic resonance and the potential for it to destroy a structure (i.e., skyscrapers and bridges); and it has been proven that a sound with a certain harmonic resonance can destroy structures. Especially if there is a group with the power of BD that is playing an open chord so well in tune that is creating a mass of sympathetic harmonics...It is very likely that IT DID HAPPEN. There is legend (and I suspect it may be more than that...) that there was an episode in the 60's where Ohio State played a certain song (Sloopy...of all things!!!) during a game; and the press box started to vibrate. It actually spooked the Athletic Dept. so much that they did tests in the stadium with the band; and actually for a time used the band to check the structural integrity of the Horseshoe before each season. Michael, you are fine. I wouldn't stop seeing your therapist, though... (p.s....Wish I could have been there....)

A lot of this has something to do with the abundance of guard specialists judging the Visual GE and Performance captions...it is almost out of balance with judges with a musical background. I find this to be a problem in that the demand and excellence of the visual book by the brass and percussion (which, quite frenkly, should be predominant, IMO; this is a musical activity primairily) has become secondary to the guard ('visual ensemble'...isn't the brass and percussion 2/3rds of this so-called-ensemble???); and can carry a disproportionate percentage of the evaluation. (This has also occured in the band activity as well....is WGI becoming the 500-lb. gorilla in the house?) Therefore, the numbers are being added in the guard rather than balanced throughout the entire corps. And I also believe (da## you, George Hopkins...another phrase stolen from us! ) that there is some bleed-over into overall GE captions as well. I am not a huge fan of today's judging fraternity; they have become overly influenced by the guard activity and have carried over their overly-progressive approach to programing and design to their judging tolerances. If a corps (like Garfield did one year) decided for a huge horn line and a smaller guard for a specific show, they could not even count on making finals; much less winning. That is also the reason why we had gone thru a phase of the cookie-cutter wind ensemble and WGI-based esoteric shows in the past decade the corps are fighting to find a way out of. Judging should be opinion...but opinion based on performance and functionality of design; not personal preference.

Probably had some of that Texas bbq between shows. Brisket does wonders!

I have lost all low end on the webcast. I know, b***. b***,b*** Never mind...got it back big time...yum!

BONES!!!!!!!

Actually, the advertisement at the stadium (and the feed) said 'TOP 17"; could it be a mistake or did DCI reconsider?

I know there are other corps who are happy with this afternoon..but I see the big winners as: 1. Blus Star...They are back in the house! 2. Madison...I believe we will see them in Finals in Bloomington. They are moving hard! 3. Troopers....Back in semis (and back from the dead in '06 ); and still integrating the guard! One of the best afternoon regional shows I have seen.

Interesting spreads; I wonder if this is a product of the additional 2 judges...

I am sure they will get it cleaned. I am just taking a snapshot of what I see now; and as a judge would do am commenting on what I see at that time. Visual block should clean the individual differences in the technique.. Either way, we're good.

I do not see the uniformity right now. And with the different body angles inside the drill forms it is creating the illusion of dress problems. Yes; sometimes you have to address technique even if it is unique to them IF it is causing them problems. IMO (and with years of experience in this activity) it is where they are using it. Sorry if you are offended; but it is what it is.

BK is cleaning fast..I just wish they would address the lower-body technique. This knee-check is extremely distracting to both form and flow; imo. Here is how I see it... 9. BStar....clearly this afternoon. 10. Glassmen (barely); I think they performed just a tad better 11. BKnights; Moving in right direction; they do have a few issues that should be adjusted in visual. 12. (out on a limb)-Madison. Again, moving in right direction; could swap with next corps 13. XMen. Wonderful guard presence; not my favorite design. Thought Mad horns might have edged them. THIS IS TRICKY: 14-16th...Troop, Spirit, or Colts. I just cannot choose. I know show position has a lot to do with it; and in Troop's case; the guard size is an Achilles' heel. On a head to head, this could go any way; but just by 10th's. I am chicken. I will not call that one. 17th. Pacific Crest. Just do not see them moving up; just too much dirt. 18th. Academy. Again, design ano performance problems inherent. 19th. Mandrins...cleaning up; and could see a swap one or two positions up depending on judges' view. 20th. Pioneer. They are doing their best; just not in the class of the rest of the corps. These scores are going to be TIGHT.

Design is really killing Colts this year...they are at least 15 years behind the curve...and it is hurting their position. IF they had performed in the first half this afternoon they would get passed by several corps. I would place them between PC and maybe Troop. I will not be surprised if they are ahead of even Madison due to placement in performance order, however. At least today. Wish I could be more positive...this is clearly design and instruction (to a degree...)

nOW you're gonna make me cry...

WITH...an old-school OTL setup!!!!!!!!

Hopefully on the RIGHT side of the road...

Afraid I have to disagree...from a technical standpoint; there were many moves that could not work; and are causing the members to pull out of the form flow to dodge other elements. In addition; the overall visual was not clean at all. Just because the work looks difficult does not mean it is better. My guess is that Madison will pass them up...and possibly Troop (minus guard bias...).

Are they still working on him/her on side 1 back? Hope they are OK....

Depends on whether the visual judges are from guard or music background. Xmen clearly had the guard; but Scouts were cleaner and clearer visually, IMO.

I am curious if Troop may get into Madison's draft and pass a couple of other corps today with Madison?

Am a bit surprised at Academy...they looked very messy in their visual program.

OH NO...not Gunspoint! (If you have lived in the Houston area, you would know why it is called that). Good thing the DM packs...