corps8294

Interesting for the mid-point of the season. The shaping and the shifting go on...

For those of us that were in the ranks, we've all seen "more" than tan lines on the bus. And after a while, it was just another body next to you changing. Some looked really good and were often given a double look; while some you hoped were the first ones changed.

Percussion: HNC - 2 PR -1 BAC - 3 BS -5 Gmen -4 Spirit-6 Hmmm...

Percussion scores and/or placements?

How did the corps rank in the percussion caption tonight?

Amazing how things change in a short span of time. Just a couple of weeks ago, the Blue Stars were being spoken of being top 7; now it's down to the top 10.

I was there that night. I remember it being like the tropics in Arrowhead. Very warm and extremely humid. When I watched the re-run of the telecast the following day, you really got a "close up" view of the conditions and of that unfortunate moment. It's one of those moments where you don't want a camera zoomed all up in your face; sweat pouring down and the "oh s***" expression that speaks volumes without words. I didn't mind Blue Devils in '89. I disliked the uniforms and wasn't much a fan of the Premiers with the Yamaha stickers on them. I found Curt Gowdy's ramblings and bumblings of BD to be quite unforgettable, too... "They're wearing black pants! **slight pause**...Which gives and interesting contrast to...blah, blah, blah. Gotta love an old sports commentator that really knew absolutely nothing about drum corps.

Quote: "BS has some music issues, notably percussion (which has been their achilles heel all season)." For those that have seen BS live, is this true?

History has come to repeat itself with the "Kansas Kurse." Kansas Kurse = Northern Aurora '93 (although I don't foresee Spirit dropping from Div I to Div II like NA did because of thier programming choices)

With the Blue Stars making it back into the top 12 last year, I think the "just because" factor will still work against them; even if they deserve to be on top. If the Blue Stars come out strong, yet again, next year, I think they might be able to take down the Bluecoats, Vanguard, and maybe another. But this year, I think the Bluecoats will come out on top, "just because..." However, if the Blue Stars really, really do deserve to top the Bluecoats on finals night; here's hoping the judges do the right thing.

Can't forget about the convenient grocery store next to the show site, either. Corps folk stocking up on goodies for the road!

The people who this is unfortunate for are the members who fulfilled thier financial obligation, the volunteers, and the staff. Why didn't the powers that be foresee this before the corps set out on tour or during the winter and spring months? It's difficult to feel bad for an organization that keeps making mistakes and, unltimately, hurts its members. I don't want to see another corps go under or suffer; but this is just plain ridiculous.

Dairy Queen right across the street from the stadium! Mmmmm, Mmmm! Railroad tracks right behind the stadium! Ugh!

To this day, I still think the best format for finals week was Div II and III competing on Monday and Tuesday, with the finals being on Wednesday and the Div I corps competing on Thursday and Friday, with the top 12 competing on Saturday. It was a great, well rounded and structured, week for drum corps. Moreover, the top corps from II and III would move on to compete in Thursday's quarterfinals for a chance to make the top 25. I know a lot of the lower tier Div I corps hated that as they didn't want to get beat by some pesky and fiesty II or III corps. Moreover, there was the political side as well; "if they aren't Div I why should they get the oportunity to compete at this level?" A lot of these "small" corps from II and III were exceptionally good as they were, sometimes, scored on the same sheets as Div I corps. On the actual Div I side, there were always those smaller corps with a lot of fight in them. The Geneseo Kinghts and Boston Crusaders used to have some awesome small corps. I believe the Crossmen made it back into the top 12, in 1989, with around 40 or so horns. In this era of ever growing corps sizes, I still think a smaller corps could go places with a rich abundance of talent and a great show. Not sure if a hornline 28-38 would cut it; but 48 or 58? You bet!

I remember back in 1987, there was a judges field day show in Delevan, WI. It was before Memorial Day weekend and all the corps there had thier shows complete. The corps I recall being there were the Blue Stars, Guardsmen, Phantom Regiment Cadets, and The Madison Scouts. The show wasn't scored, as it was basically a day for the judges to go out and get an early refresher on things. All the corps had thier shows completed, and nobody stopped to arc it up. Scouts performed without thier uniforms; they were out thier in thier shorts and white bucks. Yeah, I agree with how things are speeding along these days. When the season started, this year, I was thinking how that would have been the start of first tour after a couple of weekend shows to start June, back in the day. When I marched, the season woud start the first weekend in June with some weekend gigs, then a "first tour" to finish out the month, then prep time and weekend or extended first tour to get ready for the mid-point of the season (which would have been DCM), then a weekend show, then the home stretch with "second tour." The season would run well into August. This was back when the majority of the schools would let out at the end of May and not start up until after Labor Day; a true three month summer. I always remember that the mid-point of the summer was like a major regional for all the corps; DCM finals, DCE finals, I think there was a DCW too. The actual DCI tour wouldn't start until the second half of the year. Sure there were some corps that would branch out and go to other regions, as done today; but most of the same corps toured together for the first part of the season. There were some second tour shows that were two day events, back then, too. The Stillwater, MN show for example. A huge show in a small stadium that would pit a bunch of the Division I corps together for the first time of the season. Some of these shows were also a chance to see if a Division II or III (A and A-60) might have a chance at breaking into the top 25 that year, too. Ahhhhh, sweet memories. Pretty cool thread.

Alright, I see that it's time for a refresher... A. It's Bluecoats. Not Blue Coats B. It's Blue Stars. Not Blue Star Carry on

During DCI's Orlando years-mainly '96, 97, and '98-the upper decks were filled with bandos. Most of those kids could not have given a flying ((bleeeeeeep!)) about who or what was performing on the field. And those that did were obnoxiously loud and filled with "know it all" commentary. I'm pretty sure the majority of these bandos had to be in the high school freshmen, sophmore, and junior age group. Now, bando on the drum corps side: Bluecoats '89 and '90; especially '90. One of thier nicknames in 1990 was Blueband.

The Blue Stars are STILL adding more flotsam and jetsam to thier show? Good grief. Good to see their score go up, though! I suppose if having an entire Home Depot super center on the field keeps the score rising, I'll go along with it.

'84 Suncoast Sound! That show was 100% awesome! The worst: 1996 Glassmen! Ugh! Overall, just a bad show. It didn't even look like the members were enjoying performing that show.

If all this "hometown" reaction to the Scouts is true; that's rather unfortunate. I was at the Scouts home show in '07, and was witness to the same thing. There are things about my corps that I'm not pleased with; but don't leave until done is done. Those members work too hard to be walked out on.

"Not any more obvious than a corps playing a classical piece using a cello." ...now THAT rocks!

Here we are, gang, one week into the season and what do we know? Who is up, who is down, who is looking to rise, who is looking to fade? Who or what do we like, who or what don't we like? Remember, it's only one week in; so have fun and don't be too overly critical (save that for the end of July). *Take into account that the Seattle Cascades and Jersey Surf have yet to perform/compete Just think, years ago this thread could have been called "One month in..."

Good grief! Some of these corps have endured three weather related show cancellations or standstill options already. Lack of field show = lack of judges exposure; not good. Sometimes mother nature can be a straight up, shallow, ((**bleeeeeeeeeep**))!

If anything, this thread just added fuel to the vocal fire. "Let's get ready to rumbllllllllllle!" How about that? ;-p

Boston Crusaders, best guard uniforms of the year!