wvu80

Speaking of hitting the nail on the head, I think you just hit the one variable that could change history. No doubt BD is untouchable this year. But... ...but that flu bug has just devastated every corps that had it this season. I was wondering a couple of weeks ago if the original carriers, Carolina Crown, weren't lucky to get sick then, instead of finals week? What if this thing hits BD next Thursday or Friday?

I heard Vanguard three days ago in Charleston, WV. When SCV hits that company front, they are as loud as anybody. They just ripped people's faces off with the sound, when they decided to turn it loose. HUGE standing 'O for the company front. There is a high amount of humidity in this area the last few days, and that will slow the sound down. I suspect that accounts for the lack of a sonic shower, and not the corps.

Thanks, I wasn't a math major! Hey, I replied to your post because you are a Phantom fan, and PR has been taking their lumps at DCP this year. I want to tell you that at Charleston they got a HUGE ovation. The kids are selling the show and I liked it a lot. It is much better live than on FN. They have a huge horn sound and their snares play better than anybody else, in my humble opinion. (I heard phantom's snares in the lot, I'm not wrong about this. :) ) BIG standing O at the end of the show, from the West Virginia crowd, and from wvu80!

Hmm, I'm not sure of the reference, but I assure you I hate the people who scream during the quiet sections in Cadets shows. I think they do it so they can be get onto the DCI recordings, and when they're drunk and parties with their nerdy friends they can play drum corps recordings, and say "thaaatssh meeee." They don't do it when the Mandarins are on. They save that crap for Cadets and Blue Devils. They do it because it is approved and condoned in the drum corps idiom. It is only .00019 percent of the audience, but those idiots think it's OK. I'm speaking for the other 99.9999 percent of us who are adults and know how to behave.

The Vanguard yell is "people." "HOLY NAME!!!" is by one person, purportedly a staffer. (thank you, Terri Troop for that important reminder of DCP reporting. ) No. I reacted to the idiot screaming. When I learned it was a supposedly a staff member, that made it worse. But at the show, it was very annoying. Even one of the band kids sitting near me (around the 40 near the top) after he heard the yell turned towards the source of the screaming and said with that lovely sarcastic smart-alec sound only teenagers can make, "shut up!"

I applauded many times, all corps. I stood up three times for Cadets, twice for SCV, and at the end for PR. So did everybody else at this great drum corps show.

What??? This is not "someone", it's a STAFF MEMBER, in the stands, on the 50 where I'm SURE he did not pay for a seat, trying to "add" to the corps show. It's not spontaneous, it's not emotion, and that guy is not screaming out of nostalgia or some other rubbish. I go to corps shows to hear corps play, not to hear staff members scream from the stands. I don't care if someone thinks I'm overreacting or not. I love Cadets show, and I've been a Cadets fan and a George Hopkins fan since the 80's. I'm angry about this. That's called "RE-acting" to a yell, not "OVER overreacting." If anger is the crowd reaction Cadets are are going for they've got it. Staff members need to stay out of the stands, and shut the hell up while their corps is performing.

Wow, that's low class. I remember the days when crowd response was "GE." Staff members would troop the stands, sit in the aisles and start applauding and whooping loudly and annoyingly so they could get the audience to applaud in what they (not the audience) considered the "proper" spots, thinking they could beef up the GE for their corps. It was incredibly annoying. Then they would run down the steps (usually while the corps was done at the end and the corps was still playing) and the next set of unprofessional staff would run up the steps and take their place. It took a while for this practice to stop, which thankfully it has. Or at least up to now. The staff screaming and "WHOOOOO'ing" during the show ruined it, or at least ruined the moment, for many of us who had traveled thousands of miles and who had gotten decent seats near the center, and made us hate their corps. A certain Canadian corps was the absolute worst at doing this. They were rude, they were there every show, and ran lots of staff up and down the center aisles. The staff thought it was their "right" to do this, to help their corps. How do I know? I asked "why" they did that, and that was the answer. When George Hopkins took over the Garfield Cadets in 1982, Garfield was noticeably one of the FEW corps who were totally professional, and did not do this. They were noticeable by their class, and many corps who wanted to win, followed their example. It's part of what made me a Garfield fan, and made them a cut above. I would hate for Holy Name Cadets to set a trend to return to the "bad old days."

wvu80 here. I was actually at the show, so I might have something intelligent to contribute, for once. Great crowd, lots of band kids. This is Phantom's home show believe it or not, and the last couple of these were not well attended. I guess the word has gotten around. This one had a huge crowd (4-5 thousand?) and it was a well behaved crowd for a change (band kids not always great) There were MANY kids who thought Vanguard had won. You see, in West Virginia Simple Gifts is the signature song of the WVU marching band (they march around 400 and play "drum corps greatest hits"). When Vanguard hit the company front in Simple Gifts, the well-trained crowd jumped to their feet with a thunderous ovation, the same spot in the music they do the same thing for the WVU Band. It was a great moment for both corps and crowd, I can tell you that. PLEASE can we find the IDIOT who screams "HOLY NAME" at EVERY FRIGGIN' show Cadets do right when they are playing backfield with the H-N-C form? I hated it on the FN, but now we hear it in West Virginia, so this isn't an idiot from one local area. It came from near the press box right on the 50. SURELY there is no staff member from Cadets who is so stupid? Whoever this is, he really needs to shut up. It ruins a great moment from a great corps I suppose this idiot worships. Troopers got lots of love from the WV crowd. And Phantom's encore was worth the price of admission. PR's show is MUCH better live, and they are a power corps, much in the tradition of the early 80's power corps, like BD, Spirit, and Bridgemen. I still haven't looked at scores, but the kids are really starting to sell the show, and the swing section is as good as any swing jazz you will find anywhere this side of BD. Am I the only one who likes the dancing corps members? +++ Edit: Oh yes. Remind me to tell you the story about the gun shots within 500 yards of Cadets practice at 4:00, and the West Virginia black bear.

I won't be judgmental regarding this one young lady, because I'm sure there is more to the story. In general, to march with pain can be admirable in some circumstances. But to march with an injury that could lead to the permanent loss of sight in an eye, against medical advice, is not very smart. It's not the percentage play for leading a full and happy life. Teenagers are subject to the peer pressure of the moment and a "suck it up" attitude when it comes to group competition. The responsible adults charged with watching these young people should know that, and make the adult decision in the person's best interests because they are immune to peer pressure. Those of us who are old enough to have children realize the important of certain moments, and to risk the possible loss of sight for the rest of your life to "march Atlanta" just doesn't matter. Life is bigger than that. I hope in retrospect, that is the lesson learned. The fact the person is lucky and sight is not lost doesn't turn a bad decision into a good one. I will AGAIN say that I don't know the circumstances, so I am NOT being critical of any corps personnel, or the parents, or of the individual. I am saying IN GENERAL that based on a doctor's recommendation, and based on the fact that this potentially involves the permanent loss of vision, the importance of short term trivial events should not outweigh the potential effects of long-term consequences.

I don't agree with any of your opinions, but your avatar is pretty funny! LOL! (so you don't have to look this guy up, it's a red EASY button from Office Depot with a BLUE DEVILS imprinted on it) LOL +++ So, do you suppose DCI staged the judging last year so Phantom would win?

Mr. Hockey Dad, I couldn't agree with you more! And I think you're on to something here. I think we should hijack this thread, and turn it away from the Dark Side of the force into something good (well, maybe not good, but at least funny). I think the rest of this thread should be dedicated to meaningless statistics. Did you know that in golf, 99% of all putts that are short, don't go in? Who's got one?

Wow, what an irrelevant, yet totally inappropriate topic for a thread! I'm sure hoping the moderators are moderating this morning. :)

I know I am! (and where's that Wedgie emoticon when you really need it?) +++ By the way, the MOST IMPORTANT statistic isn't even mentioned in this thread. If you look at the time EACH CORPS has spent PLAYING WHILE SITTING IN CHAIRS, you will find the BLUE DEVILS dominate this category with well over a minute of sitting. No other corps even comes close. And I would point out that the Blue Devils are undefeated this year, and currently are beating the second place corps by nearly two points. Doesn't that tell you something about statistics?

"Also, I think it would be great if you would time the actual amount of brass playing for each show. I'd love to have some evidence that shows how little Blue Devils actually play this year." (DCIMonkey) LOL!!!! That's right, we all know Blue Devils don't really, actually play their horns, so I'm with Mr. Plan-number-Nine: WE WANT PROOF! Where's the proof???

I think Colts will make a nice run for top 12 at the end.

Mr. Hopkins entrance into the Crossmen HOF is an honor both earned and well deserved. Congratulations, from a long time Crossmen fan, and George Hopkins fan.

How about 1929? Happy Days Are Here Again - by JACK YELLEN and MILTON AGER © 1929 (Renewed) WB MUSIC CORP +++ To the OP, nice topic. Love BD, love the '88 show, love the 2009 show.

The show seems to be running late for an east coast event. Was there a weather delay? I'd like to know the scores, but I've got to get up early for work tomorrow!

LOL! (I love good sarcasm) Dan, the way I look at it, you're entitled to your one mistake per year. No matter how many times you make it.

Right. It was stupid then, and it's stupid now. How about if Troopers adopt a tradition of excellence, instead of a tradition of slowness?

Perfect. LOL!

Once again, the obviously biased and politically motivated DCI judges have slotted the best corps into first place. ...I wonder how many DCP'rs won't recognize good sarcasm when they see it?

I had major problems. It might be on my end though, I'm not sure.

Make sure you upgrade to Firefox 3.5. The old version 3.011 or some such number doesn't support the video like the new version does.