Strutters '72

Just sitting here in our air-conditioned hotel waiting for the show to start here in Modesto. It's 105F (41C for us Canadians) and if tonight's temps follow last night, there will be no relief for the performing corps come show time. It should be interesting to see how the corps (and judges) perform in this heat. Come on DCI, there has to be a caption score added for HOT!!!! Drove past the stadium....err....solar oven ^0^ at 3:30 and Fever was out on the turf rehearsing! Now that's what I call a warm up session. Okay, no more bad puns. You all know it's hot out here. It's been a while since the top Div II west coast corps have performed and the first time OC competes head to head with SCVC and BDB. I can't wait! 4. Blue Devils B....81.45 +2.70 7/15 5. Vanguard Cadets..79.90 +2.90 7/15 6. Oregon Crusaders.79.45 +1.60 7/12 I'll post a review after the show.

First show tonight.......72.90

Oh....goody, goody, goody. More pictures. THANKS JIM!!!!!

It wasn't just Division II/III that the East dominated, corps from the east dominated Division I as well. Santa Clara Vanguard's 8th place is their worst finish in the 33 year history of DCI. And you have to go back 12 years to match the Blue Devils 4th place finish. The Seattle Cascades couldn't get off the ground this year either :sshh: . Why? One of my theories is that the further the corps had to travel this year, the more challenging it was for them at the Championships. With fuel prices at record highs, the cost of being on the road for that long and having to traveling that distance had to strain these corps budgets. Transportation, insurance, lodging, and food were all very expensive this year. That left less money for drill writers, composers, instructional staff and equipment. All the essential ingredients for a successful unit. Not to mention the rehearsal time that was lost while traveling. Just one of my theories. One that will be tested in 2007 when the East coast makes their way to the West. Better pray the price of fuel doesn't go up too much more. If it does, I predict that there will only be a hand full of Division II/III corps in Pasadena in 2007.

The Raiders won best percussion in Div III. Good job!

I sure wish I could be there! Just getting our corps out east to compete this year was financially challenging. Hopfully, we'll be able to see you all in Madison next year . Thankfully, there is a little left over for the DVDs! I can hardly wait to see all the corps that I've read so many good things about this year. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Strutter, do you have something you want called out when OC comes on? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> That would be great. "Go Canada". Thanks. Wow, I'm a little chocked up right now. Got to go.

....I'm pretty certain that both will put everything they have and the kitchen sink besides (with Jersey Surf, the sink is is a distinct possiblity) into Thursday night's show. ... regards - Jim <{POST_SNAPBACK}> And that statement begs the question "What WILL Surf hit us with on Saturday? I can't wait to see. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I sure wish I could be there! Just getting our corps out east to compete this year was financially challenging. Hopefully, we'll be able to see you all in Madison next year . Thankfully, there is a little left over for the DVDs! I can hardly wait to see all the corps that I've read so many good things about this year.

I'd like to thank all the unpaid volunteers in all corps for their dedication and hard work. These are remarkable people who deserve recogintion. THANK YOU !!!!

I don't know a lot about how other corps operate, but as far as I know, the OC staff and caption heads are all volunteers. As a matter of fact, some even throw in their own money to buy drum heads, sticks, mallots, amps (why bother), and an ATV (thanks Brian). This is less like a job and more like an obsession! :lolhit:

On Sunday night, the following corps scored as follows; East Coast Jazz 91.900 Teal Sound 90.450 Impulse 90.200 Oregon Crusaders 90.150 Blue Stars 89.650 Fever 89.075 Jersey Surf 87.45 Memphis Sound 87.100 For the last two weeks, no corps had "clearly distanced themselves" from the rest of the group. I'm a little puzzled by the point spread between the top eight corps at this mornings prelims, considering how close these groups have been all season. From my observations of past championships, there will be little or no change in the placements from the prelims to the finals and grand finals. It appears that the judges have NOW clearly indicated who's going to be on the podium for the Division II championships. Or maybe not............

Brockton, MA II/III Prelims 10:00AM Memphis Sound 10:16AM Jersey Surf 10:32AM Impulse 10:48AM Teal Sound 11:04AM Oregon Crusaders 11:20AM Fever 11:36AM Blue Stars 11:52AM Spartans 12:08PM East Coast Jazz 12:24PM 64 Minute Break 1:28PM Blue Saints 1:44PM Targets 2:00PM H.Y.P.E. 2:16PM Racine Scouts 2:32PM St. John's 2:48PM 7th Regiment 3:04PM 16 Minute Break 3:20PM Spirit of New Jersey 3:36PM Les Stentors 3:52PM Cadets of New York City 4:08PM Strangnas 4:24PM Lake Erie Regiment 4:40PM Citations 4:56PM Dutch Boy 5:12PM 32 Minute Break 5:44PM Pride of the Lions 6:00PM Allegiance Elite 6:16PM Revolution 6:32PM Capital Sound 6:48PM Yamato 7:04PM Raiders 7:20PM Taipei Yuehfu

Yep. They were not in any shows Sunday night.

East Coast Jazz 91.900 Teal Sound 90.450 Impulse 90.200 Oregon Crusaders 90.150 Blue Stars 89.650 Fever 89.075 Jersey Surf 87.45 Memphis Sound 87.100 This could be the closest Div II finals in history. Anyone could take this one folks!

My daughter, who's with the OC, told me this morning that they are staying in a hotel for tonight onward. Odd housing arrangments for a drum corps. Anyone else hear about this? Update ----- Yep, they're in the Hampton Inn!

This was a great show! We arrived 2 hours early and sat on the top row, right on the 50-yard line. Great crowd and some solid performances. Bluecoats and Crossmen were definitely the most entertaining corps. Yes, the announcer was annoying, but I just tuned him out and yakked with the people sitting around us. We had a lot of fun.

A few photos from Hornell. Warning: These are very large images. http://www.ece.ualberta.ca/~rob/Hornell%20...%202005%20a.JPG http://www.ece.ualberta.ca/~rob/Hornell%20...%202005%20b.JPG

You're right, very not cool! Thanks for defending the OC DCI-DadX2. Some people lose touch with the fact that all these corps work their butts off to get to where they are today. This is the OCs first year in Div II and they've accomplished a lot in their short history. They have overcome a number of set backs to put a very entertaining show on the field. Scores and winning are great, but if you bore your audience, you've missed the point of this activity, which is to entertain. I've sat through some pretty boring "winning" performances in my many years in drum corps, especially in Div II/III. I was in Hornell, NY last night, and one corps had the crowd on their feet, clapping with the music. They didn't win by points, but they were easily the most popular and sent a lot of people home with a memorable experience. In Denver last year, this same corps put on one of my favorite shows of the year and we chose to go to this show because of them. The OC may not win a championship this year, but I know they have a lot of fans out there because they definitely entertain.

THOSE ARE AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! Thank you very much.

Amps?!? My drum corps experience goes back 33 years and I'm still not happy with the pit (oh sorry, the front ensemble) It just blocks my view of a perfectly good "drum and bugle corps". I say "BAN THE PIT!!!!!!!!"

GO CANADA. FYI, there's a Canadian sop player marching in her second year for the OC who's nick name is "Canada". She's lov'in it! (And so is her dad ) And that's what this Drum Corps thing is all about. It's about the kids and the experience they get from these organizations. Just imagine what it must feel like to be a kid from Edmonton, standing in a football field in Dubuque, IA, competing with kids in corps from equally far away places. What a fantastic activity this is! My drum corps experience is so engrained in my psyche, that my heart starts to race just watching these great kids practice. It makes me feel like I’m a kid again.

(Div II & III) Music on the March II, Dubuque, IA July 27, 2005 Place Corps Score DIVISION II 1 Blue Stars 85.350 2 Oregon Crusaders 84.300 3 Fever 82.350 4 Colt Cadets 58.550 DIVISION III 1 Taipei Yuehfu 75.350 2 Capital Sound 72.700 3 Dutch Boy 68.250 4 Allegiance Elite 66.750 5 Pride of the Lions 66.150 6 Blue Saints 35.950 Blue Stars now hold 1st place! OC, you make me proud. Good job Fever and welcome back. Now we have to wait for Impulse to return and complete the Div II field for the championships. Way to go WEST COAST!!!!

The scores I quoted for the Blue Stars and the OC were from a DCI sanctioned show in Chippewa Falls, WI -- July 26, 2005. And what exactly do you mean, "judged by farmers"? Must be that east coast "pride" mentioned earlier in this thread.

"Clearly distanced themselves"? 01 - 84.90 - East Coast Jazz 02 - 84.65 - Spartans 03 - 84.35 - Blue Stars 04 - 83.15 - Oregon Crusaders 1.75 point spread from 1st to 4th place. Doesn't look too clear to me.

Place Corps Score DIVISION II 1 Blue Stars 84.350 2 Oregon Crusaders 83.150 3 Colt Cadets 57.450 DIVISION III 1 Taipei Yuehfu 74.750 2 Capital Sound 69.300 3 Pride of the Lions 65.750 4 Dutch Boy 62.100 5 Blue Saints 35.100 OMG! What has Mike been feeding the OC gang? What ever it was, looks like they shared with the Blue Stars! These people are giving me a heart attack! Stop it, I can't take the suspense any more. Now there are 4 corps within >2 points of one another. 1. East Coast Jazz – 84.9 (7-23-05) 2. Spartans - 84.65 (7-23-05) 3. Fever – 79.85 (7-17-05) 4. Jersey Surf – 79.4 (7-23-05) 7. Impulse – 74.45 (7-9-05) 8. Teal Sound – 73.35(7-22-05) 9. Memphis Sound – 72.95 (7-20-05)

Impulse is doing great too! And what can I say about Academy. How about WOW! The west is alive and well with the sound of horns and drums. It's too bad that they all can't go to the finals. East Coast Jazz and the Spartans have achieved great scores in just a few shows as well. East Coast Jazz 1 06/25/05 [Malden, MA] 71.80 2 07/02/05 [Nashua, NH] 72.50 3 07/03/05 [bristol, RI] 73.50 4 07/05/05 [beverly, MA] 74.70 5 07/09/05 [springfield, MA] 78.30 6 07/10/05 [Wayne, NJ] 78.70 Spartans 1 06/25/05 [Malden, MA] 72.85 2 07/02/05 [Nashua, NH] 73.45 3 07/05/05 [beverly, MA] 74.85 4 07/06/05 [Ft. Edward/Glens Falls, NY] 75.30 5 07/09/05 [springfield, MA] 78.95 Like I said earlier, it's getting interesting!