mcjordansc

Maybe we will see VK back in World Class in the not too distant future.

We went on last in prelims in 1980. Right after 27th Lancers. It was HOT that day. Something only those associated with the corps would know - we gave one last full uniform performance later that night in Talledaga for the staff and anyone else hanging around. The members did not want a somewhat lackluster show being the final performance in 1980. With a thunderstorm rolling in from the west (and the temps much cooler), the 1980 Blue Stars finished the year in a very emotional way. I would love to hear (or see) the show we put on a few hours after placing 13th.

No doubt, the Blue Stars have work to do to make finals in Bloomington, but the trends are in their favor.

I think you might see some alumni tears again this year if the Blue Stars perform Saturday night in Bloomington. Once again, thank you to all of the members, staff and volunteers who have kept up the Blue Star tradition during the past 28 years. There were years the corps was very small, but you always knew they were the Blue Stars.

Yes, lucky for them, there are now plenty of available seats on the front sidelines.

Here is a shot from 1977 showing fans in the endzone seats. Not full, but they are there.

I would say the gap will be smaller.

The Blue Stars posted a video on their fan network today of the corps director, Brad Furlano, speaking to the corps before the San Antonio night show. It appears as if he got quite emotional while telling the kids that this would be the first World Class (D1) finals show for the Blue Stars in 28 years. I think it is remarkable what the Blue Stars are close to pulling off this year. What a great story. Thank you to all the kids who marched, staff and volunteers who kept the corps going (and in such a quality manner) after they dropped to DIII (and DII). I hope all the alumni who marched during the past 40 plus years are enjoying this season.

This might be the funniest post ever on DCP. Thank you.

July 24, 1982 - the Phantom/Madison runoff after the DCM Finals tie between the two corps. The crowd and the corps were on fire. I still think the 1981 finals show of Spartacus by the Phantom Regiment is one of the great drum corps moments. In my opinion, they won the crowd that night with an incredible performance. Very unexpected.

Up 4 points when the two corps have not competed against each other since 7/2 (Blue Knights won that battle by .5)? If you really want to compare scores from different shows, then tonight the Blue Knights are up on the Blue Stars by, wait for it...., .6. That is a far cry from four points. Really, all this comparison from different shows is silly. Saturday will be the first day we truly know where all corps stand relative to other corps.

Well, it was .325 last Saturday in Orlando and .2 tonight. Not seeing a lot of movement in the spread so far this week. I also think you should take into consideration the time at which each corps performed. The Blue Stars were before intermission and the Glassmen were the second corps after. That does have some influence on the scores. Saturday will be intersting as the two corps perform back to back. I would expect an accurate and fair result.

The first rule of Puker, is that you don't talk about Puker in a public forum. It was, however, great. Champagne breakfast up on the bluffs to start the day, followed by the usual - opening ceremony, brewery tour, picnic, dance. All and all a great effort by a brilliant Puker committee. PS - I aged out in 1981.

I don't want to come off as too harsh, so my apologizes if I did, but I remember a fairly hard working corps in 1980. We were much less experienced than 1979 and to some degree not pushed quite as hard by the staff. Unfortunately, it caught up with us that year.

No offense, but did you march in 1980? I did, and we were far from arrogant. We struggled early because we did not do a first tour. We never really caught up. We knew it was close going into prelims and drawing the last prelims spot on a hot afternoon immediately following a hotter 27th Lancers did us in. It certainly was not arrogance.

Did you see the show tonight? I know the Blue Stars added a great deal to their show this week and they had two full days without a show to practice. My guess is that is paying off for them right now. With that being said, they do have some staff that came over from Boston this year.

Blue Stars must have really taken advantage of their practice days this week. Obviously, they have made some additions to their show that are really paying off. It is nice to see the Stars seriously in the hunt for a single digit placing at finals. It is unbelievable that a corps might be back in finals after a 29 year absence - that is no doubt a record (if it happens) that will probably never be broken.

I guess we now know that the Blue Stars used their practice days in very good way. Congratulations to the Stars.

Great news!

It will be interesting to see if the Blue Stars can close the gap on the Glassmen and Colts in Music Ensemble tonight. I am sure the Stars made good use of their days off this week cleaning their show. I am also looking forward to seeing if the gap between Boston and the three corps behind them is smaller. I hope the weather holds.

1. Blue Devils - Concord, CA 2. Phantom Regiment - Rockford, IL 3. Santa Clara Vanguard - Santa Clara, CA 4. Blue Knights - Denver, CO 5. Madison Scouts - Madison, WI 6. Crossmen - San Antonio, TX 7. Pacific Crest - Diamond Bar, CA 8. Mandarins - Sacramento, CA 9. Pioneer - Milwaukee, WI

I think the top twelve is starting to take shape and I am unsure if there will be any drama in August in regards to who makes finals. In my opinion, it will be: Cavaliers and Blue Devils fighting for first PR in at third, but a darkhorse for the top spot SCV alone in fourth Cadets and Crown fighting for fifth Bluecoats in seventh I think there will be a fight for places eight through eleven between Boston, Glassmen, Blue Stars and Blue Knights I see the Colts in the final Saturday night spot, but I do not think they will receive much pressure from any corps behind them Friday night.

BD 86.5 PR 85.1 SCV 83.7 BK 74.8 Troop 71.5

A little over 100 miles from Bloomington, 115 miles from Indy.

I don't know if Glassmen can catch Boston tonight, but it is interesting that Boston's score has not changed for four shows in a row (neither has Crossmen's). I am not rooting for Boston to get beaten by any corps behind them, but I would like to see a nice competition for eighth place between Boston, Glassmen, Colts, Blue Stars and Blue Knights. Close groupings of corps always make things more exciting in August.