Newseditor44

I believe the post and the question posed in the post had a direct realtionship to drum corps, so yes, it is relevant. As for Ohio State, sorry you don't like it. Just don't click on the thread next time. I'll try and use Michigan as an example next time. I too marched college marching band and a division I drum corps, and as far as the experience, both were comperable, but in their own special way. I wouldn't have traded either in for the other. Does difficulty really need to be the difference in order to make the experience more satifying? In other words, is the exerience lessened becuase marching band is not as difficult as drum corps? Does this mean that marching band is less than drum corps? If so, then why do any of you participate in marching band? Its a bit hypicritical for us to say marching band is not worth time of day yet most of us belong or have belonged to one at some point in time. Just playing devils advocate...

Wow, for the most part, some excellent responses. I guess for me... I would like to dot the I, but I base that decision partially on the fact that I have marched a finals. Been there, done that. Heck, I would give anything to just to come down the ramp with OSU for a pregame... or Texas... or Michigan (well, maybe not Michigan!). As for the argument that people don't come to see the band... I have been to an OSU home game in the Shoe and a Michigan home game in Ann Arbor, and I can safely say that 95% of the people that attend these games will tell you that seeing the marching band take the field for pre-game is part of the overall experience that is college football. Michigan fans go crazy when they hear "Hail to the Victors", and Buckeye fans will proudly make it a point to be in their seats in time for them to see TBDBITL come down the ramp. In Columbus, I was really taken back by the amount of energy that the band created before the game. It was pure magic, something that I could only equate with a show like Machine or Frameworks. There is a huge difference between 20,000 people going nuts, and 105,000 people going nuts. Drunk or not drunk, they know its there band, and they would back that band just as proudly as they would their football team. And most of them are singing the fight song so dang loud that you can barely hear the band playing. It's a whole different kind of goosebumps, yet its the same... you know what I mean? And I have to disagree with Michael Boo (which I don't make a habit of doing), rings don't matter, neither do groupies. What counts is the experience and the fleeting moment for which we encounter that experience. Whether its winning a Championship, marching in finals, marching a script Ohio, making your way down Colorado Blvd. in the Tournement of Roses Parade, or dotting the "I", we are all in it for the experience, which will live on within all of us, forever. O-HI-O... SING!

Never attended OSU... just a fan. :)

Hey, and if you Dot the I, that plaster your name, picture and a quick bio on the huge scoreboard.

steve - great insight! Fro my personal experience, I would say both are equally as difficult, but in different ways. Although, I have witnessed plenty of contra/tuba players that had no business plaing a horn for a championship calibur corps (at least at the start of the season) and still winning a championship.

Or how about 20,000 people showing up two hours before game time to a Skull Session (Pep Rally) to see the band perform. Those tickets are just as hard to get as game tickets are!

Dotting the I is a HUGE deal... First off, just getting into TBDBITL is more than difficult. I got hooked after a visit to a friend in Ohio in the early 90's. She marched both drum corps and TBDBITL, and if faced with the choice of marching one or the other, would have chosen the band 7 days a week, twice on Sunday. Here, this explains it better.... The "i"-Dot Tradition If it were not for the mind of Eugene Weigel, the sousaphone might still be viewed as nothing more than the instrument at the back of the band. Instead, because of Script Ohio, sousaphone players from all over the country choose to attend Ohio State and try out for the band, just for a chance to dot the "i". Very few get the opportunity to dot, but those who do remember it forever... History of the "i"-dot At its first performance, the Script Ohio's "i" was dotted by a trumpet player, with no special attention or honor being given to the movement. When the trumpet player, John Brungart (1933-36), dotted the first Script Ohio "i" October 10, 1936, the march from the top of the "o" to the top of the "i" was just another movement to complete a formation. Brungart simply took his place in a complex single file line drill. Over 60 years later, the honor of dotting the "i" is known throughout the world. Because director Eugene Weigel provided several new floating formations throughout the 1936 season, the first Script Ohio was seen by bandsmen as just another formation. No charts were used--Weigel simply placed members in their spots. "We knew that we did something different, not started a tradition," Brungart said, "I wasn't picked to dot the 'i', I was just in the right place at the right time." Script Ohio was performed two more times during the 1936 season, both with Brungart dotting the "i". During a field rehearsal in the fall of 1937, Weigel had a spur-of-the-moment idea, and shouted to Glen R. Johnson, a sousaphone player, "Hey, you! Switch places with the trumpet player in the dot." After several run-throughs with the exchanged positions, the script was ready to be performed. At the game on October 23, 1937, the marching band, led by drum major Wesley Leas, performed with Script Ohio with Johnson dotting the "i". Johnson was in the band from 1937-40, and during all of those years he dotted the "i". From that time forward, the i-dot became the province of the big horns. The familiar kick, turn, and bow by the sousaphone player at the top of the "i" was an innovation introduced by Johnson at a game in 1938. "(The turn) was an impulse reaction when drum major Myron McKelvey arrived three or four measures too soon at the top of the "i"," Johnson explained, "so I did a big kick, a turn, and a deep bow to use up the music before Buckeye Battle Cry. The crowd roared when this happened, and it became part of the show thereafter." Having become the object of attention, occasionally the lucky musician dotting the "i" was identified for public notice. In the 1950's, several i-dotters at the Rose Bowl were named in nationwide news releases. Many have been interviewed by local TV stations and national networks during the week before their "dots". The media attention given to the i-dotter has only intensified the thrill this privilege gives. How an OSUMB sousaphone player becomes an "i"-dotter To be eligible to dot the "i", a sousaphone player must at least be a fourth-year member of the OSUMB. Since more than one person usually meets this requirement, the sousaphone player who has marched the most pre-game ramps is given the first choice of which script he/she wishes to dot. This is picked from the scheduled performances of Script Ohio for the upcoming season. This process continues until all fourth-year members have chosen a dot. Fifth-year members are also eligible to dot the "i", but only after all fourth-year members have chosen. Fifth-year members choose their dots from the remaining script performances, following the same method of seniority used by fourth-year members. If a script is remaining after every eligible musician has chosen, all sousaphone players place their name in a hat and one is drawn. This is the person who will dot the remaining "i". At post-season performances of Script Ohio (usually double scripts), fourth and fifth-year members compete for the open dots in what is called a "dot-off", in which eligible members perform their "i"-dot routine for the entire sousaphone section. Members watch two rounds of competition and vote for the best two candidates. The top vote-getters become the dotters for that performance of Script Ohio. Honorary "i"-dots Several prominent individuals and couples have been honored by being allowed to dot the "i". This is considered the greatest honor the band can give to any non-band person, and is an extremely special (and rare) event. Honorary "i"-dotters with the OSU Marching Band include: Bob Hope, Woody Hayes, OSU President Novice Fawcett and his wife, Retired ticket director Robert Ries, and now Jack Nicklaus. OSU president Gordon Gee, his wife, retired directors Dr. Paul Droste, Jack Evans, their wives, and Heavyweight Champion Buster Douglas have also dotted the "i" with the OSU Alumni Band. Additionally, all thirteen seniors of the 2002-2003 National Championship Football team dotted the "i" at the National Championship celebration. Band members and band staff have maintained that the privilege of dotting the "i" is 'Not For Sale' -- the tradition is reserved for sousaphone players and, on very special occasions, persons near and dear to the marching band, The Ohio State University and the State of Ohio.

:o

Thought about this question while watching TBDBITL and Script Ohio today.... What would be a bigger milestone for you, dotting the "i" in Script Ohio, or winning a DCI Championship? Tough call, but I would have to go with dotting the "i". Go Bucks

What in the bleep was that? I feel like I was just taken for a ride with the Griswalds.... LOL :P

Dave... we really need to get you out more. Oildale is starting to grow on you!

Mark, I loved the 87 show! I thought it was Regiments "coming out" party, so to speak. The new uni's that year really made a powerful statement. I will always love the last movement of the Swan Lake show... Ah, the good ole days!

While the BLack had its day... nothing stands out more than the White!!! If no one knew this was about Regiments uniforms... can you imagine the scandal?

You're not biased are you? ;)

Here's another question.... Do you think its safe to say that this is the greatest drum corps ending of all time?

Again, for the gazzilionth time, I got goose bumps watching garfields closer from 1987. Anyone else get the same thing? Also, is there anyone that marched in 18987 that can share with us how that was added, when it was added, and how they felt about seeing 25,000 people go completly nuts?!?!?!

Nothing wrong with being devil's advocate... your points are valid and probably dead on. Sad to see that DCI is not worried about a middle ground.

Funny you should say that... the first DCI Championship on th west coast... 10 minutes from my home, and I am actually thinking about not going. I never thought I would say that...

My predicition: at this rate, DCI will cease to exhist in about 10 years.

let me just say that i can apprecate the ideas that people put forth and the effort made to make the activity more enjoyable and to take it down new and exciting paths. Change is good, but can't too much change too soon can have a negative effect? Aren't we completely getting away from the simple things that have made or activity unique. Sure, you can argue that what separates drum corps from Marching Band are the hours the kids spend on the field, the hard work and dedication, and the complexity of the programs. Now if you seriously believe that crap, I have a great piece of oceanfront property to sell you in Oklahoma. Marching bands have consistently been closing the gap as far as quality of performers in the past several years. The lie between drum corps and marching band has been blurred and will continue to blur even more with the passage of such ridiculous rules. In fact, I think the argument can be made that the only thing that makes drum corps worth while is the stigma that goes along with the name "drum corps", or the names that have made the activity such as SCV, Blue Devils, Cadets. Kids march these corps because of name recognition. I don't know, I am so ###### that I can't even finish a sentence. Stepping off of my soap box

MY GOD PEOPLE!!!! Get a grip already... how many of you have been asking the Cadts to go old school... and now everyone is whining! I for one am very excited about this show... in fact, I am excited about all of the shows this year. Why, because we are lucky eough to have drum corps to get hyped about.

I was thinking about this tonight... what are the most influential shows in DCI history. What makes an influential show? According to Webster’s Dictionary influence is defined as "the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others: He used family influence to get the contract. " So when thinking about the most influential shows of all time, we are talking about shows that changed the activity, whether its the way we look at drill, music, concept, art, etc. Here are mine below: 1. Garfield Cadets 1985 - The show was much less about entertainment than it was about challenging the performers and the audience to reach deep down inside and question the direction of the activity. A stunning yet complex show from start to finish. It took the audience a bit to get it, but you had to marvel at the sheer talent of the corps. 2. Star of Indiana 1993 - Not really much to be said here other than what has been sad before. This could be the show that pushed the activity into the modern age. Movement has become paramount and its all due to Star in 1993. The fans questioned this show for years, but like a fine wine, its appeal has grown with the ages. 3. Bridgman 1980 - Yes, you can be looney and #### good at the same time. Bobby Hoffman lead a great group of instructors and kids that never once believed that they couldn't win a championship... and they almost pulled it off. One of the all time classic performances. If you haven't seen it, do everything you can to see it! 4. Cavaliers 2002 - Simply amazing. This could be called the pinnacle performance of the Cavaliers dynasty. This show was nearly flawlessly performed. But more so, the design was pure magic. Scores not counted, its probably DCI's greatest show ever. 5. Madison Scouts Alumni 2006 - This is the true definition of the word family. For 15 minutes, all of us were taken back in time. For those of us lucky enough to see the Scouts of the 70's, 80's and 90's, we were allowed to relive our youth. For those that had never witnessed the Scouts of old, it was a chance to see buffet of one of the greatest corps of all time. The Scouts were famous for getting the crowd to stand and scream their heads off (I think this is where the term "throw your first born on the field as a sacrifice" was born"). On this night the standing ovations were accompanied by tears of joy. There is no better way, IMO, to educate the youth of this activity on drum corps of yesterday.

Nothing like the Renegade Marching Band.... DOH! And where are they now?? (I say that has an alum, of course!)

Jeez, I guess they cheezed out in 1989 as well. How dare they play a musical! Hey wait, wasn't that the year they won the title? I guess sometimes cheese is good.

The sheer power of SCV's hornline in 1987 makes them the clear cut winner in my book. I saw that show three times in person, and each time I thought i was going to go bald becuase the hornline was ripping my head off. They were amazing!