[Best 4th Place Show?]

C'mon. This show deserves at least one vote:

1978 Madison Scouts

[Most excited]

madison scouts alumni corps

blue stars

[Which shows were "off" on finals night?]

1988 Madison. Their semis performance was smokin'. Finals night was off. Particularly their opener. As it turns out, it didn't matter....

1999 Blue Knights. Their quarterfinals performance was one of the best performances I've ever seen. I believe they were in 4th place after quarters. Ended up 7th, passed up by Glassmen and Madison.

[What corps was it that scrapped their entire show]

1976 Madison Scouts:

What I found interesting is that the arranger of the show that was scrapped, was the very successful and famous Michael Lecrone, who has been the University of Wisconsin marching band director forever. For the entire decade of the '80's, the best thing about a UW football game was the "5th quarter" where the marching band entertained after the game was over. Something I never saw anywhere else in the Big 10, and it continues to this day. Goes to show you - what works in one "idiom" doesn't necessarily translate to another.

[Who do you WISH to see in 1st?]

Who do I WISH to see in first? Well, after waiting 35 years with no end in sight, my wish is:

The Troopers

[Agree with me or disagree, IMO]

Hard to argue with any of these choices. But one stands out for me:

1999 Blue Knights.

Especially their quarterfinals show. It stands out because, I was never much of a fan of BK, and had no expectation at all when they came on the field.... I was totally blown away by BK's balance, tone quality, musicianship. Just pure excellence.

[Best chord of all time?]

How 'bout a couple from the '70's? I know, the tone quality wasn't what it is now, but these two have always stuck in my mind:

1974 Troopers, Battle Hymn, 11:57-

1974 Cavaliers, Tommy, 5:39-6:00......a whole tone scale, to boot! So Debussy-like....and with the baritone hovering above the chord at the end....sweet