cantgetenoughcorps

I just noticed the finals rankings, averaging the scores from all corps over the course of the season. Tells some interesting stories. Ranking date criteria: 6/21 - 8/09 Rank Corps Avg. Score 6/21 - 8/09 World Class 1 Blue Devils 89.773 2 The Cavaliers 87.416 3 The Cadets 86.733 4 Phantom Regiment 86.466 5 Santa Clara Vanguard 85.695 6 Carolina Crown 85.685 7 Bluecoats 83.758 8 Blue Knights 80.348 9 Boston Crusaders 80.145 10 Glassmen 79.453 11 Blue Stars 78.553 12 Pacific Crest 77.149 13 Colts 76.347 14 Madison Scouts 75.823 15 Crossmen 75.797 16 Spirit 75.679 17 The Academy 74.675 18 Troopers 73.938 19 Mandarins 73.349 20 Pioneer 66.029 I think if you swap out Cadets and Crown, and Blue Stars with Glassmen, and Scouts with Pacific Crest, you actually have the way things should have placed finals week. I didn't even realize DCI did this.

Great point on Star. Even more remarkable when you consider that all the staff members were working together as a team for the first time in 85, with a brand new membership base. Some other examples of situations close would be Magic 02. After 2 years off, coming back with almost all new members and making top 12 Troopers 07. After a year off, coming back and putting on a great show. That is one reason I think Troopers would have a great chance of really being a contender for top 12 again, after seeing what they managed to do with an almost whole new crew.

With tons and tons of staff changes this year, got me wondering, which directors and other staff members have been with the same corps for the longest lengths of time? It doesn't matter if they have changed positions with the corps, but who has been with their corps the longest? I am guessing Roman, Gibbs, and Hoppy are in the top10 somewhere?

With the current staffs, what kind of placements would you predict if every single corps had entirerly new members, with no one returning from the previous year? I think the top 3 would end up Blue Devils Cadets Cavaliers These 3 corps staffs have the best success of any, and I think the every day details are covered better by these 3 corps year after year. Even with brand new members, after watching their rehearsals, I think they could still perform close to the level of other years. I think Pioneer would probably move up in the standings a little. They would actually have the biggest advantage as they probably have the most new members percentage wise on an average year. I think Troopers, Colts, Pacific Crest, and Crossmen would also probably have some advantages, as they also have decent staffs, with alot of turnover to other corps. How do you think things would end up if every single corps had entirely new members in 2009?

Pioneer has always been a fairly enjoyable corps. I remember years back in the mid to late 90's when they were open class, and still making semis in DI/World Class. Then they switched to DI, and I think several factors kind of helped lower them to the bottom rung. The question is if they really do need to place higher. Someone is going to place last every year. so what if Pioneer is last, if the kids are really having fun and learning alot during their summer, it isn't necessarily a bad thing. That being said, I really don't know if the designers are making the show challenging enough. I honestly think the kids are capable of performing more difficult shows. Yes, there may be alot of kids that don't have any experience, but I think overall the kids are performing the shows given to them exremely well. I don't think there is any problem with the Irish theme. I think it's cool they have stuck to their identity. But I do think there are a few more challenging Irish tunes out there that would suit Pioneer very well. Maybe start with more challenging music, and then maybe beef up the drill design. I don't know about anyone else, but I would love to see a little more challenging show, even if it means it isn't quite perfect come finals week.

I think some posts on other threads pretty much covered the defining thing that helped Phantom clinch their win. The fact that DCI is not stupid, and realize that one of the key factors in their income was suffering from extremely stupid management and about to go bankrupt. Phantom is a huge draw, as they had probably more than any other alumni in the audience at finals this year. And with finals being in Indy, DCI realizes how much they have to gain by making sure Phantom stays around. And while other years there has been some debate on which of the top 2 corps actually deserved the win, this is the first year that the very obviously 3rd place corps has won the title. I would almost bet if SCV were run as badly as Phantom was in the next year, they would probably be sitting with the next title, whether or not they deserved it. DCI knows their top money making corps are SCV, BD, Cavaliers, Cadets, Phantom Regiment, and Madison Scouts. The big difference with Madison is that they still bring people to the shows even if they aren't in contention for finalist. Most people would rather watch the 15th place Madison show than they years when Phantom came in 7th and 8th. Good call DCI to save your own tail. Defining factor in Phantom 95.15....whoops I mean 98.15.

Phantom didn't do anything that hasn't been done before. Many other corps have done authentic storylines before. SCV has probably done this the best with many of their shows over the years. I would agree, Spartacus doesn't even come close to the level or category of Four Corners or Stonehenge.

I was not wanting to see Devils get their umpeenth title. But unfortunately, they had the BEST show on the field finals night. Blue Devils won that night, regardless of what 9 people wearing green and khaki say. As has been proven many times this year, the judges haven't been in the game all season long. However this year it has been pointed out to us on so many occasions. Phantom had a very good show. A championship show, it wasn't, but it was a very good show. Other than the win at all costs Phantom Phaithful, I think when most people receive those dvd's they'll certainly see what they were too blind to see that Saturday night, that Blue Devils were the TRUE 2008 DCI CHAMPIONS. I was there and I knew. I think most of the people around me knew, but no one that I know of was hoping for BD to win. Most people are so jealous or envious of BD that any change is a relief, even if the corps crowned champion didn't honestly deserve it. And you have to admit, a good share of Phantom formers make up a larger than average share on this boards. I would say that Phantom is the most represesnted corps on these boards, with Madison a distant second.

I still think it is a misprint. Definitely not an accurate judging of the finals performances that night. Blue Devils were your true DCI 2008 champions. It doens't matter what 9 judges that scored the performances before they even hit the field say. Congrats BD!!!!!

After watching finals, I thought Blue Devils should have won it, absolutely no question. I thought Cavaliers were probably the 2nd best overall Phantom should have just edged Crown for 3rd place, with Crown 4th. There wasn't anyone around our group who didn't think Blue Devils had it locked up. The only caption Phantom should have beaten them in was percussion. The only captions Phantom should have beaten Cavies in were percussion, and possibly music GE. Blue Devils and Cavaliers both put on championship caliber shows, and Phantom and Crown were just slightly behind.

We all hear the names, Hopkins, Fiedler, Gibbs, as well as hundreds of other names through the years, like Royer, Ott, etc. Would people here be willing to post pics of some of these great people so that everyone can see who they were? I'll be alot of us have seen some of these people in person and not even realized who they were. I recognize Hoppy, Fiedler, Orwell, and a few others when I see them, but would love to see a bigger picture of some of these people than the tiny little box you see in the annual programs. These could include directors, staff, members or volunteers whose names have been mentioned here. This would include Michael Boo and others who write for various sources.

First off, if you aren't going to contribute to the thread there is no need for you to post. You didn't have to click on the link if you didn't want to read the thread here. Second, this thread is talking about members well after the days of Star. Members who aged out as many as 6 years later which would be 1999. As well as the extension of Star clear into last few years with Blast and the sequel, which I haven't seen but think it is called Blast 2? So hardly historical in those aspects.

Thanks for all the repsonses. It is not at all like I thought it was. I really thought that the kids probably knew well before the season ended. I feel bad for the kids who really wanted to be a field corps. I guess to some degree it would be like folding, even though they went on to be successful in another venue. It is really nice hearing from a members perspective of how they felt and what their reactions were. I think Amber had one of the best responses I have ever seen on these boards. I can see your points, and I suppose it is even more frustratating that you don't even know all the answers yourself as a member. At least if a corps folds because the finances aren't there, they at least know why they folded. If a corps has the finances, and is extremely successful, it is probably more of a lingering question of exactly what happened and why. I have the utmost respect for Star and what they performed and accomplished over the 10 years they were on the field. I have heard their fees were kept very low, and it sounds like they were treated well by the staff. I miss their entertaining shows, want to thank their staff and performers for 10 amazing years. I never saw brass theatre unfortunately, although I have seen Blast, and enjoyed it alot. I think I'll rewatch some old Star shows tonight.

Overall I like Bluecoats better. But the last five years or so, Crown has REALLY raised their game. But history of Bluecoats keeps them ahead by a little for now.

1st question I've got. How many of their members went on to march in other corps after the announcement was made that they weren't doing a field show in 94? The other question, is anyone here on DCP a member of Star in 93? I wonder what your initial reaction and thoughts were when you heard they were going to completely change the direction, and perform an indoor show instead of the field show. Were you upset? excited? bummed? angry? thrilled? And did you have any idea before the season ended that was coming in the future? Also, someone said there were cd's available with them performing with another group from the indoor show, does anyone know how to get ahold of these? I'd love to order them if they aren't too expensive. Are there also DVD's available of this performance?

I didn't list Cadets as I wouldn't have a clue what that show was about. They tell you, but I am talking about the corps portraying the music and visual to tell you what the show is. Maybe if they played the song from Peanuts(Happiness is...) Crossmen, I would also probably give them honorable mention. I kind of overlooked them, sorry Bones. Crown, I am sorry, it is a fantastic show that I would love to see in the top 3, but just listening I would never guess those are all endings. Sure, it is very recognizable music from a variety of places, but I am not sure how many people would know they are all endings of recognizable pieces.

Thanx for the pic. Now that is right before the big hit in the closer isn't it? I see they really did tear up the field, but when you see all that drill in their show, I can see how that could totally tear up the field. Anyone else got any pics from their Allentown show? I don't know if they changed any of their flags for that show, but I heard from a reliable source they were getting a new flag that looked like new yard lines on a football field. I had heard it was over 100 yards wide, and the whole corps was going to disappear, just like SCV in 89. I just thought that was an awesome concept, but I would think they would be very expensive.

This year there are alot of different themed shows out there. Which corps do you think have the simplest concept to understand just from watching their show. I think the 2 corps I would have to go with are Blue Stars and Colts this year. I think both of these 2 guards do the best of their ability to portray the themes. Blue Stars is more physical, with the design of the flags(like the handlebar pole) and the props. Colts have the night and day theme, and I think they probably have the best flag designs out there this year. Honorable mention would go to Cavaliers, Bluecoats, and Phantom Regiment. All of these are well portrayed, but not quite as recognizable as the Blue Stars and Colts. Shows like Blue Devils, SCV and Crown are all great shows this year as well, but some of those themes are kind of hard to portray. Some great visual moments from all of them, but it would be hard to watch them not knowing what the theme was, and at the end be able to say, that show was about......

I think if we were on the tick system still, I really believe that INT would win solidly most years. I can't remember the last time I saw any flaws in their performance. As solid as BD and Cavies are, you can usually find a few errors somewhere in their performance. With INT, it is basically one seamless, perfectly transitioned show. Look at the drumline, I never see a single stick out of sequence. I haven't seen a drop in their guard for years, and they have the most unique flags I have never seen. I love the way they blend in with the field. By chance, did anyone take any pics of their performance at any of the shows this year? I always get so excited during their show, I always forget to take any. If anyone has any pics, could they please post them?

Phantom is NOT BD's biggest competition. They haven't even come close to them yet. Cavaliers have beaten BD once, in the most recent competition. So Cavaliers are the ONLY thing even close to being in the way for BD. I give the edge to BD come finals week. And I would give the edge to BDB right now in Open Class, so I think there is a VERY GOOD POSSIBILITY that BD and BDB will sweep come finals week.

They have gotten a little better with show design in the last few years, but really don't stack up against Cavaliers, Blue Devils, Cadets or SCV in terms of design. This year, I would also have to give an edge to Carolina Crown in terms of show design. Show design is good. Leading the way... nowhere close.

If you have any proof to the contrary, please elaborate. Otherwise, there is absolutely NO explaining the scores Phantom received a few of those years. But if you honestly think that any show other than Cavaliers could beat Blue Devils this year, I think you are definitely being delusional. Just my opinion

The only way Phantom would win is if Cavies and BD didn't show up to the stadium. Or if the judges give them more sympathy like did when scoring them in 05 and 06. "Waaah we're broke and can't pay our loans and we're close to folding" "Well, we'll give you some bonus points in the scoring to get you more souvie sales" "ok, thanks"

I think in years past there was a judging bias against them to a certain degree. I think that in recent years, they have placed where they deserved with the shows they have put out. But I would definitely say in the 90's they didn't always get the placement they deserved.

Yes there are bad eggs in every bunch. Unfortunately Phantom seems to have more than the average dozen. As far as the comments to the original poster, why not jsut answer the question as "No there isn't too much violence" as opposed to making fun of the original poster? I think the total rudeness and arrogance of the corps shows through comments like the ones made by people on the boards.