dans

The current system must work because the correct corps won GE

Another season is over and the fields will soon be occupied by football teams once again. Congratulations to the Cavaliers for a well deserved win, what a cool show, clearly the best corps this season! Not the best of seasons for us Cadets fans. Their show had some cool Cadets like moments, but overall just didn't connect as well as some other years. Some years a corps placement can not diminish just how special a certain group of kids are. The 2006 Cadets were just such a case, what a special group of young adults. My wife and I did some volunteer work for the Cadets this summer, and speaking from 1st hand experience, this was a special group of kids with an amazing work ethic. The 2006 Cadets had to deal with being booed, slandered, laughed at, criticized way past the point of just not liking their show, lack of acceptance from the judging community as well as the crowds they performed for. Amazingly, through all the adversity, they kept their resolve and determination to be better. If I was starting a Drum Corps, I would gladly recruit every member of the 2006 Cadets and be proud to have such mature and talented kids. I may be in the minority, but I'm more proud than ever to be a Cadets fan. FOR HOLY NAME SHALL ALWAYS BE

Bingo!

You certainly have issues with reading comprehension. Please enlighten me on how I tried to change your mind obout anything, I no better than to attempt to change a closed mind. I simply responded to your original post to let you know you were whining cause you favorite corps got beat fair and square. Have a nice day and go Cadets! :)

You really must be kidding! All was good with the judging as long as Bluecoats were beating Cadets, now that Cadets are beating Bluecoats the judging is under your scrutiny, give me a FREAKING BREAK! Every small gain that the Cadets made this year was earned with blood, sweat and sheer desire to be better. I have followed the Cadets for years, and this year they worked harder than I have seen them work for several years. The Cadets kept busting their collective butts through all the scrutiny, criticism, booing, nasty remarks and a judging community that was clearly not buying their 2006 production. I spent the entire day with the Cadets the day of the Meadowlands show. They practiced on the field in Giants stadium for an entire afternoon and the temperature on the field was 147 degrees! They busted their butts for the entire afternoon, running from to set to set, not complaining and staying focused on their goal. Many a corps would have folded under the pressure and abuse the Cadets have had to endure all season. Do the Cadets deserve to win this year, absolutely not, but they have paid the price and without a doubt deserve to be in 4th place. Kudos to the Cadets members and staff for their determination this year, they were actually quite good last evening! B)

Cavies - 1st Blue Devils - 2nd (BD is real good, Cavies just to much though) Phantom - 4th

Saw Blue Devils at Allentown last night, they are on purpose! I'm not a big Devils fan but they are very good! Cavaliers are going to have their hands full holding off the Devils. Phantom should be a distant 3rd (maybe even 4th behind a certain corps that I wont mention at the risk of starting a war) in Madison this week.

For Gods sake, it was posted by Hop out of respect and to inform those in the Cadets family that knew him, and would want to know of his passing. I'll bet you April had no problem with Hop on this one and she's the one that counts on this one, not you. God bless April and her father.

Oh give me a freaking break already, what else is in on here but peoples opinions!

In 2003 Phantom was way more appealing musically and emotionally, in my opinion.

You had some positive comments about the Cadets, you better duck!

I'm glad you have nothing better to do than dig up all my previous entries on here to try and ridicule me and make yourself look so important. I stand by the way I felt at the time I made my previous postings. The Cadets did have a world of potential going into this season, just didn't pan out the way it could have for them this year, I can handle that just fine though. Yes, it's no suprprise to anyone on here that I'm a Cadets fan, if you can't deal with it that is your problem. My thoughts about Phantom or any other corps have nothing to do with the Cadets. For your information I thought Phantom was the best in 2003 and possibly should have won. It appears as though the real bias here is not in my ability to evaluate other corps objectively because I'm a Cadets fan. The problem here is your bias against me because I'm a Cadets fan. I apologize if I offended anyone from the Phantom Regiment organization, I was just giving an honest evaluation. Oh well, enough, Tsar if you want to run me through the mud again go ahead, have fun!

I apologize if my post was over the top, I get way into this stuff. I have followed this activity my entire life , it's such a part of me. Thank you for thinking about what I said and not jumping to your own conclusions about my motivation for the post.

I realize that I will certainly be ripped and ridiculed for expressing my opinion, and that's fine. These days, opinions must fit within the guidelines of certain individuals that frequent this forum to be given consideration. Last evening, by some mis-alignment of the planets, the Phantom Regiment came within 1 point of the Cavaliers? Quite honestly the creativity, innovation and visual eye candy the Cavaliers offer is on a different level to Phantoms tired, re-hashed and boring Fuast presentation. For god sakes there were guard members in Phantom literally tripping over their flags last evening, not to mention equipment drops at key moments. I will say their hornline can play loud, but I heard several nasty, crass sounds coming from them last night. As far as a percussion section goes, I seem to remember hearing one a few times. They are supposed to have this great persussion section, if so, why don't they use them? Percussion has a secondary role in their 2006 presentaion, makes you wonder at the scores they get. 2006 Phantom just flat out lacks creativity, innovation and entertainment value for this long time drum corps fan, and is quite frankly like watching paint dry. Might have been a good show 10 years ago though. If by some bizarre occurance Phantom wins this year, I for one will be left scratching my head. Oh well, flame away, ready set go!

The Cadets have clearly been slotted by the judging community at this point. I attended Bensalem last evening and was quite frankly shocked at how good the 2006 Cadets have become. They have a really difficult show and are actually getting really good. The Bluecoats had some obvious performance issues last evening that were apparently overlooked by the judges, and I use the term judges loosely! From a susbstance, complexity and design standpoint Bluecoats are simply on a lower level then Cadets. I spoke to several friends (show designers, instructors and educated corps fans, some Cadets fans some not) after the show and they all were more than a little puzzeled at how the Cadets didn't walk away with a win. I am usually a big defender of the DCI juges. I realize they have a very difficult job but last night the better corps was actually very obvious. The judging community has obviously decided the Cadets will come in 5th this year no matter how good they become, what a shame. Oh well, that's the way it goes! Kudos to the members of the Cadets and their staff for giving us a very entertaining and complex product this season.

You forgot one: Because the judging (I use the term loosely) community has decided about a month ago that the 2006 Cadets are not worthy of merit

Can you imagine if this was the Cadets guard? The jokes and mocking would be non stop. Just goes to show you the Cadets are judged by different standards.

1998 and 2006 Cadets are both great shows in their own way. I know that's not the answer you're looking for, sorry, that's my honest opnion.

This drum corps season is one for the record books. Apparently all top 5 corps, minus the Cadets, have seemless, flawless works of brilliance this season. Little did the Cadets realize going in to this season that they would be competing against 4 perfectly designed shows with no flaws at all. Sarcasm off!

WELL SAID

You are 100% correct about the Cadets! This show absolutely flat out rocks! I'm usually one of the biggest defenders of DCI Judges but they are just flat out wrong this year. All the bad comments being made about Cadets are sheer nonsense and bull######!! I have watched this show over and over again and I just flat out disagree with the critics about this show. To say this show is cluttered and lacks focus is nonsense. This show had some issues early on but is has been changed and tweaked more effectively than any other show (with the exception of the Cavaliers). I don't know why DCI is in anti-Cadets mode this year, they are not giving this corps a fair evaluation. I have followed this activity for forty plus years, I have marched with and been taught by some of the best and brightest individuals this activity has to offer. I know a great Drum Corps show when I see one. This year the Cavaliers and Cadets clearly have the most complex, interesting, entertaining and well thought out shows of the year. I'm sure I will soon be called a "BORG" and that's ok with me! I really don't care if I'm alone on this one, I get the brilliance of the 2006 Cadets big time! wow, what at corps. Months from now, when I get my 2006 championship dvd, the Cavaliers and Cadets will get the most play time by a long shot!

I would have to say things are not looking real positive for the Cadets this season. As much as I enjoy & appreciate what the Cadets bring to the field this year, the judging community seems to be sending the message that they are not rewarding ensemble difficulty, complexity of design, demand on performers, and anything that does not even remotely resemble something that has been done before will not be rewarded.

No, I said what I said because certain judges have not given the Cadets any feedback (isn't that their job?), constructive, or otherwise. You certainly jump to you own conclusions quickly and often, that must take alot of energy. Relax, let people speak for themselves!

Didn't see you criticize my opinions. I did see your childish, mean-spirited response though