As a marching member of the 1985 Phantom Regiment - it is always nice to hear good things about this show. I was a rookie as were many, many people that year. The show WAS very hard and I remember some judge telling us at our first show in Harvard, IL that we were going to be in for a long season!
We had many problems (as do most corps, I am sure) throughout the season including many bus breakdowns and lack of staff on tour. We never gave up, though and we even wanted to give up our free days on tour so that we could practice (our staff MADE us have free days).
By finals week - we were really hoping to make the top five (and the broadcast). There were drill moves that had never worked all season that were finally coming together that last week! John Brazale was around that last week and could not believe his difficult drill was actually - finally - being performed!!
I still think the whole Berloiz show was great - and I would not mind seeing it done again in Rockford!!
Rex Rukavina
PR Soprano '85