FlamMan

You mean the Scouts really cant find anyone who has spats from the 1970's??? Then again, there aren't many Scout alumni in Bloomington Indiana.

Speaking of the Scouts, why don't they just officially move to Bloomington, Indiana & become the Bloomington Scouts? There isn't anything "Madison" left in the Scouts, is there? No practices, no camps, & the corps members now move to Bloomington rather than Madison. I wonder how the city of Madison feels about the Scouts leaving Madison but still using the name?

I agree 100%.

I think thats just the party line. The sheets had to be tallied before the Muchachos were DQ'd, right? Dont the judges sheets go straight to the tabulator?

Just put the entire corps in the same uniform...please.

I was gonna write a message about this...but you said everything that I wanted to say, probably better than I would have said it. I hope the Scouts are good this year & a trend towards traditional drum corps shows will begin.

So we had what...500 active Drum & Bugle Corps in the early 1970's who were for the most part comprised of local kids who grew up together & lived in he town the Corps was from, versus the 50 or so that we have now that are comprised of music majors of which 90% are out of state. Drum Corps has become a high brow activity that has completeky turned its back on the local community. Hell, the Corps that I marched in & love isn't even from the town they claim to be from anymore! DCI would be well served to start a grass roots local recruiting effort again.

The reason there is less hype is because the Madison Scout alumni in the Madison area can no longer jump in their car & go watch a practice & report on it. Probably lots of band kids in Indy are watching the Scouts though... Why did the Scouts move again???

I would like to see Madison actually return to Madison Wisconsin.

With all due respect to DM's...DM's aren't judged & scored.

I hope not!

I want to see a Corps where everyone in the Corps is wearing the same uniform.

I don't take this as personal at all, just a slight over-reaction on your part... With regards to the Scouts being afraid you said... "You could see it in everyone's eyes even before we lined up to enter the stadium.....Deer in the head lights, FEAR!".... As for the "melting away" comment you said... "We were in shock as we witnessed the composure and demeanor of individuals all around us shrink and melt away!" Regarding our performance you said: "As I said earlier, it was as if I were attending a funeral". Afraid? Composure & demeanor melting away? Our performance was like a funeral? Yea...wow...

Finals certainly wasn't our best show, but to say that the Scouts were afraid to take the field...I'm not buying what you're selling, & I doubt that there are many Scouts alumni who would. You really think we were afraid??? Really??? The Scouts were the last Corps who would ever be "afraid". And you actually saw the composure & demeanor of other Scouts melt away on the field? One show doesn't ruin an entire season, & I have great memories from my age out year. MYNWA.

We beat SCV in our last show prior to Finals in 1981, either in Rome or Ogdensberg, NY...& I think we beat them by a pretty good margin. We were in the drivers seat for sure. I remember that last run through in Montreal too & we really brought it. I don't remember our Corps being afraid of performing at finals though. Are you serious? The Madison Scouts afraid? Nor do I blame our "leadership" for not winning DCI that night. That's just ridiculous. I remember being hyped & pumped up as usual. My most memorable Drum Corps show ever was our first place performance at DCI Midwest finals, Whitewater, in 1981...when we were announced in first place, the roar of the crowd is the loudest I have ever heard a Drum Corps crowd...at least until MSARP in 2006! Somewhere around the house I have a cassette tape of our victory performance at retreat. I also have the drum judges tapes which are priceless. We are fortunate to be able to watch this performance since this is the show on the Legacy DVD's because finals in Montreal weren't broadcast or recorded. We beat BD by 1.15 but only won one caption M&M 1ST Drums 3RD Brass 2ND GE 3RD I think I'll watch this tonight...

Here are some pics of the Scouts 1981 Uniform accessories including spats. I forgot the belt!

The Scouts spats weren't your typical vinyl band like spats which are slip ons & cover a good portion of the shoe. The Scouts spats I believe were the exact same spats worn by the US Navy, & they had to be laced up every time you put them on. I seem to remember something about how we either purchased the spats from the company who made them for the US Navy, or we purchased them from the US Navy. Maybe someone knows the details? I predict a drum corps fashion trend this summer where Scout alumni are wearing their spats to shows. Maybe not...

Who cares where the Scouts are legally incorporated? Where are the Scouts members moving to for the summer...Madison or Bloomington? Where will the tour buses be departing from...Madison or Bloomington? Where are the Scouts buses returning to...Madison or Bloomington? Where are all of the practices & camps...Madison or Bloomington? I'm pretty sure the answer to these questions is Bloomington. If so, the Scouts are no longer the MADISON Scouts.

The Scouts are using the old Star Corps hall in Bloomington, right? How does holding practices & camps in Bloomington help recruiting efforts in Madison, Wi? So if the Scouts do recruit more locals from Madison, they must travel to Bloomington for Madison Scout practices & camps? I don't understand this business model...

Aren't Auditions, spring training, & the Scouts Corps hall all in Bloomington, Indiana???

The recent changes and announcements made by the Madison Scouts is the most exciting Drum Corps news I have heard since aging out almost 30 years ago. Quite honestly, I have been reluctant to provide financial support to the Scouts in recent years because I just didn't get what they were trying to do or trying to be. I will now re-up with my alumni dues & probably kick it up. It is ironic though that the corps has decided to return to its roots, & move to Bloomington, IN in the same year. Yea, I know, the Scouts haven't really moved to Bloomington...but really they have. I hope that other corps will follow suit & also return to a more vintage & traditional style.

It sure doesnt sound like the Scouts will have much to do in Madison anymore. They are using Stars old facility in Bloomington, & camps will be in Bloomington. I never thought I would see this happen...wow...

The Scouts should just move to Bloomington, Indiana. Saying you are from Madison but practicing in Bloomington doesnt seem right. Drum Corps should be recruiting more local kids, not more ot of towners. Who is running the Drum Line this year? Is Carter gone too?

How about this...the Scouts put the Guard in the same uni as the rest of the Corps?