academyCG_gal

You say they don't deserve to be where they are... yet they're managing to stay in or around the top 12 area. And your outlook on this is...... So they played it safe this year; Mark Richardson is a very smart man and is only doing what is best for the members in Academy, which means not taking any high money risks their first year out.

In addition though, you have to keep in mind the horrible light rail traffic. Mill + University + Rural and all the small streets around the stadium are restricted down to one lane because of the light rail construction. I attend ASU, and driving there is no piece of cake. My advice to anyone coming from out of town... do NOT get a hotel around the ASU area because it will be noisy and most likely hard to find. Also, try and look up road closures before heading that direction that way you can find out the BEST way to get to the Stadium's parking lots. I know how much of a headache trying to find your way around in a new, landlocked and under construction city can be.

To be quite honest, it's not that hot here. Maybe I'm just immune as I marched Academy last summer (2006) and this summer is looking to be nothing like last. Every day I would turn on my computer before driving to rehearsal, and the weatherbug on my desktop was constant in reminding me of extreme heat advisorys happening around the valley and the best times to be inside.. needless to say all I could do was laugh and just make my way outside for another day of spinning in the valley of the sun. If you think you've got it bad sitting in the stands drinking cold water, in shorts and a tshirt during the show at ASU this summer, imagine what all the corps in their wool uniforms are going through putting on that show for all of us. Rehearsal for the corps prior to the show won't be nearly as miserably hot as it will be preforming. As someone said, it's a dry heat... that is, unless it's wet outside. It will be a good show, for those of you driving to ASU to watch however, just watch out for all the lightrail construction. Almost every single major and neighborhood road surrounding and close to our Sun Devil Stadium is closed to one lane in both direction and most likely will be until the lightrail is completed sometime in 2009.

Alrighty, I've refrained but I just can't help it anymore. Has ECJ ever beat us in head-to-head competition? No. Did you guys even get to preform after us at Prelims like you were technically supposed to BECAUSE of the Great Lakes Open show? No. Academy is STILL undefeated according to DCI, but call it whatever you want, and tell yourself whatever you need to in order to sleep better at night and feel better about your season.