BlueR36

Who? When? Anyone?

woodwinds ... now that's a scary thought!!!

Sly was the Bluecoats' Visual Caption Head, I believe, for 1990, 1991 and 1992. He is a great instructor -- -- I learned a lot from him when I marched with the Bluecoats and continue to use that "learnin" when I instruct today. It was always a pleasure to see him, even from a distance with his loud shirts and flip-flops!! Good luck in whatever you do ... and Sly -- if you wouldn't mind joining the Bluecoats as a "consultant" or whatever capacity, I'd be the first to support the move!!!

I simply LOVE the idea that DCI is on ESPN and hope that these last two years are the start of a long and GROWING relationship between the two. Here's a couple of "simple" suggestions I think would make the telecast even more enjoyable, educational and just plain better ... -- at least one full show so people can see/understand how long one really is. The only thing there is that showing the Cavies' full show "gives away" the fact that they won. While I don't really like the idea of replaying it like it's really happening and announcing the scores after the performances like they do, I understand it for this TV show -- and this way my Bluecoats were in first place for quite a while last night!!! b**bs -- Give the viewers a little more of an idea that this isn't just a one-night or even one-week event. Mention the "Road to Madison" with a map or list of all the regionals at least and something like "these top 12 corps each performed in an average of 30 shows and travelled an average of 10,500 miles over the 60-day tour, practicing an average of 8 hours a day, seven days a week to get here to this night" or something like that. I'm sure we've all been to a local show where the announcer says "and we'd like to thank Corps X for coming all the way here to Smalltown, Pa., from California" when that corps was actually only in another small town in Pa. the night before. -- they did have one small mention of "all-age corps" but NO mention of the smaller DII/III corps. That was a little disappointing. A simple 10-second screen and list of II/III's final scores and a mention of how many TOTAL corps competed in all three divisions would give a better idea of how big the activity is. -- Oh, and fewer shots of the Wisconsin capitol building!!!! Otherwise -- keep up the good work and I can't wait for my DVDs. (Funny, but my CDs came in yesterday afternoon, so I listened to them as much as I could before the telecast!!)

Also, from the Bluecoats' Web site ... "In 1991, Mitch became the visual caption head of the Cavaliers and assisted the corps to two consecutive DCI visual caption awards and the 1992 DCI World Championship. In 1994 he wrote the Cavaliers' drill." That's one championship, one second, two fourths and one fifth while being "in charge" in one form or another. That's a pretty good resume. And remember, the Bluecoats added Drew Shanefield and Bret Kuhn last off-season to Mitch Rogers, Doug Thrower and Mike McIntosh, amongst others. That's a pretty darn good staff with a mindset to produce top-notch shows!! The Bluecoats are growing -- as much off the field as on!! They've had a full-time director (Director of the Year Dave Glasgow) for only two years and are finishing up one full year with a second full-time employee. They are financially better off than they have EVER been before and are constantly looking for more ways to improve that (tapping into their alumni base, which isn't NEARLY as big and "historic" as most of the other corps). This is a corps that's on the right path. That said, they could EASILY put a show and a corps that rivals what they've done the last few seasons and actually drop a couple of places if Cadets, SCV, Crown, Madison, etc come up with a big year ... or they could jump up a spot if Phantom, BD or Cavies have a "down" year like SCV did in 2005 or Cadets did in 2006. Basically -- it's nice to even see these conversations about the Bluecoats and whether or not they have what it takes to win it all, rather than just a few years ago wondering whether or not they'll even MAKE it to Saturday night in DCI Finals week!!!

I've been thinking about this too ... I'm from New York state and was wondering when the shows I usually get to see will be next season (Hornell, Buffalo, Erie Pa, Massillon Oh) ... Working backwards ... AUGUST 7-11 -- Pasadena 3-4 -- One of those where half the corps are at one and the other half are at another ... one southwest (Arizona?) one northwest (Seattle?) ... or San Francisco and one of those two ... or whatever -- just one north and one south of Pasadena to please both ends of the coast JULY 28 -- San Antonio and Denver ... again, half at one and half at the other, leading separate tours to the regional the following week. The fans on the West Coast deserve to at least see a full week of tour shows the weekend regionals before Finals. 21 -- Indianapolis ... everyone 13-14 -- Murfreesboro and Atlanta ... again, everyone ... yes, it's for the second straight week, but there would be two straight weekends with "everyone" at the same place leading to finals. I actually like that better. 6-7 -- Allentown -- like usual, everyone there but over two nights. And before that, there's the early regionals and "circuit" championships (which I know don't really exist, but they're still "big" shows out west, in DeKalb and Orlando, etc). Should be interesting ... and I bet DCI will be happy they don't have to plan for California again!! :P

For Crossmen, their "least" typical ... in fact, maybe ANY corps' least typical show EVER ... 1995's classical show with "School for Scandal" and "Symphony for Brass and Perc" ... they've played jazz every other year but that one ... Bluecoats: Most: everything since 2001 Least: 1992 (one of my years)

I only saw two of the three, but had to enter a reply in order to give my opinion on the other two ... any chance of adding an "I didn't see them" button just in case??

I won't mention the instructors' names ... "The reason it looks like s**t is b/c you've all got your heads up your a**es!!" "Sopranos, let's do it again -- and fat kid, get off the field" ... said during rehearsal for Finals in Madison in 1992 when some kid riding a bike came riding across the back of the practice field. The kid, of course, flipped off the entire corps. Someone on here has that line in their signature ... :P "You keep playing like that we'll have to change your horn angle -- to back field" It wasn't so much a quote as an action that symbolized the words "T*tties and beer!!" whenever we did something that sounded good in horn arc. All Bluecoats hornline members from the late 80s and early 90s know EXACTLY who I'm talking about!!! B) From an instructor (who didn't ever seem to follow his own rule) during a noisy practice ... "The definition of maturity is thinking of the best comeback ever and not saying it." "Enjoying your break?" from an EXCELLENT instructor ... sitting on the DM podium, smoking a cigarette ... while the entire hornline is in a company front ... at attention ... for about 10 minutes ... our "break" ... b/c a section leader didn't have his drillbook on the field for rehearsal .. ah, good times!!!

According to the DCI Web site, there will be DVDs for 13-24, and DVDs and CDs for Div. II and III ... seems a little strange to do a CD for Top 12, and a CD for Div.II-III, but NOT for 13-24 -- but that's what they did. At least you can buy the DVDs for 13-24 ... I'm not all that "hip with the lingo" -- is there a way to record the DVDs into a CD to listen to in a car, like the one person said he liked to do??

GE Music only had 9/10th placements switched ... GE Visual was actually a little screwy, but adding in the almost-exact-to-finish GE Music scores made GE almost right on the nose, taking away the ties. Does this mean the GE Music judge is really smart? Or does it mean GE Music is the best barometer of overall success? Or does GE in general count too much?? I've said this for a couple of years now ... in "drum & bugle corps," Phantom won "drums" and led "bugles" much of the season, but needed an amazing jump on finals night just to take second place ... the Bluecoats were third in both "drums" and "bugles" and yet took fourth overall ... Is this "drum & bugle corps" or "drum, bugle and visual corps"???

I wasn't there, didn't see semifinals online, and didn't go to quarterfinals in the theatres ... so I guess I'm not very well-informed to make any comments. But isn't that what we do here??? :P I saw 8 of the top 12 at some point this season, missing only Phantom, SCV, Crown and Glassmen (but seeing most of their shows online at some point). The Cavaliers were simply amazing in visual design and integrating their music to that design and theme. Would I liked to have enjoyed their music a little more? Sure. But it worked. Blue Devils were fantastic, but the show just didn't have that "it" I was looking for. Having not seen Phantom other than online, I don't know if they should've been switched on Finals night or not. Either way -- it's good for drum corps to have someone "new" in the top two (or "old" returning to the top two from years ago, to be more precise). Bluecoats -- say what you want, but they defeated the Cadets five straight shows leading up to Finals Week (only to have that "average score for the previous week" have them behind the Cadets in the quarterfinals lineup despite beating them both times in their only head-2-head matchups during that given week) ... and ... they had taken fourth in both San Antonio and Atlanta. The Bluecoats were "fourth" for most of the season, and even beat Phantom in mid-June and twice in mid-July ... again, I wasn't there, but for someone to say they "didn't deserve" to be where they finished, well, I frankly don't believe that. And for all those who said the Bluecoats "peaked too early," it seems they peaked at exactly the right time once again -- Finals night!!! (A small aside ... in "Drum & Bugle Corps," the Bluecoats finished third in "drums" and third in "bugles" yet took fourth overall. Same for Phantom, who was fighting for first in "bugles" and won "drums" overall, yet they finished second. Are we putting TOO much emphasis on the visual aspect nowadays?? Like I said, it IS "Drum & Bugle Corps"!!) Cadets -- I saw Cadets and didn't like the show. I really didn't "like" last year's show either, but I could see and hear how good they were. And they threw in enough "drum corps" to make it enjoyable besides enjoying the quality of the performance. This year, however, the show design was a mess from start to finish and the quality of the performance just wasn't as high. SCV -- I never saw them in person. I liked what I did see online. I filed my complaints in other forums about them gaining three points on the rest of the field in just four days (where they had three shows, so not full practice days either) in late July leading up to Allentown, which put them in contention for fourth and fifth. I've always like SCV and most likely would've loved their show -- however, based on the scores for MOST of the season, they finished about where they were ranked for the most point. As for Blue Knights and Carolina Crown, I saw Blue Knights and appreciated not only some of the show design (which is tough for me to say about that corps) and the level of performance. Crown had defeated BK eight of nine h2h meetings before Finals, but the final five of those meetings (including BK's one victory) were all less than a point, so it's not a big surprise. From what I've heard from people in the stands, it was a surprise BK pulled ahead. However, to say Crown deserved to jump up and beat any of the next group of three corps, two of whom were 3-4 points ahead all season, is a bit of a stretch. There's my uneducated opinions.

I don't know "who" did that ... but my wife was sitting next to him, I think.

That's awesome -- a classy move more groups should do rather than always being so intense and trying to intimidate their competition. I've never really paid much attention or cared very much about D.II and D.III (or Class A and A-60 from the older days) ... accept for a former local corps I had some students march with ... but I think I may have just become a fan of The Academy.

VICTOR: Thanks for the post -- and I agree whole-heartedly!!! I could NOT be prouder to bleed Bluuuuue than I am right now. What the staff, designers and members have done over the last few seasons is amazing -- four straight seasons of matching or setting new "all-time highest finishes" at Finals, not to mention three straight seasons of "peaking at the right time" and moving up from semifinals to finals (that's for all those DCPers out there who continued to say the Bluecoats would and/had peaked too soon). With the groundwork continuously be put down in the background by Dave and Gen and the dedication of the rest of the staff, volunteers and alumni, I don't see any reason the Bluecoats can't continue to battle with the "big boys" for years to come!!! Thank You VERY MUCH to EVERYONE involved with the Bluecoats in 2006 and the years leading up to last night's fourth-place finish!!!

1992 -- what a year. It was amazing being on the field for those scores!!! Crowd did the same thing in semifinals -- I was in the stand with other corps members. If I recall correctly, they had already announced Cavies score, so when the announcer said "In second place with a (different from Cavies score) ..." everyone knew it was Star. As for tonight ... I was on the phone with a friend at the stadium and she was screaming so loudly when Bluecoats moved up not one but TWO spots that I couldn't tell what the rest of the crowd was doing!!! b**bs

The CG judge at finals tonight dropped Bluecoats several placements every time he saw them. It wasn't "too" bad tonight as they were only 6th in Q's and 7th in Semi's, so 8th wasn't TOO far out of line ... but it was his trend to have them lower than most everyone else. Did it in Atlanta and Allentown, I believe. LUCKILY, it didn't hurt them from jumping over SCV and Cadets!!! Let's Go BLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUE!!!!!!!

Highest finish ever for the THIRD STRAIGHT SEASON!!!!! b**bs b**bs b**bs Also third straight season they've moved up at least one place from semifinals to Finals (two places tonight!!!)

And most of the reviews for the Bluecoats on the season, which I usually read, said they might challenge for top three, so ... As for your cleaning comment -- did they wait until the four days between Atlanta and Bensalem to clean? And as for the crowd -- if it about what the crowd usually thought, Madison would have won most of the time in the mid- and late 90s, especially 1995. And PR last year ... and PR in 93 ... see what I mean? And VK before that ...

Nothing personal ... never is! And no, I'm not in Madison, though I wish I was. That's why I started this -- What changes? Just some drill? Some music? Or something "big"? Because, from my experience, a three-point gain in four days points to something "big," not your normal every-day-of-the-summer cleaning and rehearsing. THAT was my point. Then again ... maybe I was in the sun too much this week at band camp and am just a little cranky. Then again ... there's been as many responses agreeing with me as telling me I'm wacked since I posted my question and opinion ...

No -- that's why I asked if they did "something" ... add/subtract/massive change ... there was NO indication from ANYONE that they were headed in the direction they were -- but a three-point jump in four days is curious??? Now -- my disclaimer from the beginning was that I haven't seen them, I'm not in Madison, I haven't seen enough to "know" or give a real education opinion ... that's why I asked. When all I got back was "they cleaned" and "they really want it" ... I call b/s ... plain and simple.

So, the Bluecoats' kids DON'T want it?? Please -- EVERYONE wants it. Of course -- how did I miss it ... the Bluecoats' members and staff chose to peak early and decided that they don't "want it" ...

They cleaned three points in four days? I don't buy it ... NOW -- I haven't seen them, other than online from a few weeks ago with one steady angle, and I thought they were very good ... but I still don't buy it. I've been stewing about this since it happened, but beating my team tonight finally sent me over the edge. Somewhere, someone wants SCV back in the top 5.

I totally believe that SCV was "on fire" and that they've "improved A LOT" ... and I understand that some might think the Bluecoats may have "peaked early" -- but I'm sorry ... I'm calling "b/s" on SCV gaining THREE POINTS on EVERYONE (not just my Bluecoats) in just FOUR DAYS from Atlanta on July 29 to Bensalem on Aug. 2. Now, I'm sure they were hot tonight and hot in quarterfinals ... and maybe (MAYBE!!) this is just sour grapes ... but come on -- how the heck does that happen IF (IF -- no one has said anything different) they didn't add/subtract/change something BIG!!! I know you're all going to talk about "tin foil hats" and "conspiracy theories" and all that ... but three points in four days ... that smells ...

Just curious if anyone knows of "something" (other than just getting better) that SCV did to make up 4.1 points on Bluecoats in 13 days ... and go from .375 behind Carolina Crown to 3.275 ahead (a 3.65 gain) in the same time frame. Did they add something, cut something, fix something change something ... I know corps progress throughout the season, but that is a ridiculous jump. They went from 4.1 behind Bluecoats on July 29 in Atlanta to 1.1 behind on Aug. 2 in Bensalem, a 3-point gain in four days, which is amazing. YES, I am a Bluecoats alum and fan ... not complaining or ranting, just wondering ... Thank you!!!