luv4corps

One of the key people that has made this happen with OC is YOU Dr. Phil - your dedication and love for this organization - and you deserve a public thank you. I saw your emotion last night down on the field after OC took the title. I was feeling it too. The whole organization top to bottom is a winner. So proud to be an OC fan right now!

Ok I'm really confused here.... I thought that THIS year everyone was on the same sheet... WC and OC. Granted in open class competition the scores are more forgiving but the sheets are the same. And of course in WC competition, scores for open class will drop... but again - I thought the sheets were the same starting this year. Who knows for sure?

Here is a link to the dci rankings page. This is an average score and very up to date. Scroll down for open class http://www.dci.org/scores/rankings/

I just hope this discussion can stay here where it belongs :) I'm still recovering my face... which OC's brass pinned to the lanes of I-94 last night.

I don't speak from a points or judging perspective. I speak as a mom wearing a corps show shirt...watching her kid and other kids lay it all down on the field and I was THRILLED beyond description to watch group after group out there giving it everything they had. I am also a teacher and it just hits me broadside in the heart to see these kids...all of them... working together as one unit and nailing it. I gave many standing ovations but I screamed as loud as I could for Oregon Crusaders...have to support my son in the hornline and OC's run for the title. I'm hoarse for finals (but I'll be bringin' it somehow...) After SCVC finished I saw a mom crying in the stands and she was remarking to someone else about how amazing the corps was (and I agree... Vanguard Cadets BROUGHT it last night). I didn't have a reaction to her crying except..."ahh how sweet"... and then I exited the stands to go sit out front and wait for scores... this just after OC's brass pinned my face back to I-94. As I sat in the grass, it came over me.... and I wept. I WEPT! My daughter was at the OC souvie table and as I waited for her, the tears kept flowing. She joined me on the grass and asked me if I was ok :) Other thoughts: I really liked 7th Regiments show a lot. I thought they were very clean and classy. Music City is a whole lotta fun and love the brass! SCVC has a magical show this year. Well done. Love the water theme of BDB and the different ways the corps portrays it. BDB you always scare the hell out of me. You are so darn good. Absolutely love the sinking of the Edmond Fitzgerald... gave me chills. Way to go Legends! As a teacher I have to congratulate ALL kids in ALL corps and say that you make our future bright.

I'm going to send an impassioned letter to DCI FN and say that they won't get my money next year unless they live stream at least one full open class show... loaded with all the corps. At the very least, they'll know how I feel!

Getting ready to leave for the airport for Indy, then driving to Mich City for prelims and finals, then back to Indy for the extravanganza. Can't wait! Rooting for Oregon Crusaders to take their first open class title, but really love ALL open class corps. May the best corps win. Pray for good weather and a fair contest.

I am so in agreement about weather in the west being PERFECT for outdoor shows this time of year. No thunderstorm threats... no tornadoes to run from...dry air... just NICE. I am leaving this wonderful weather for Indy and Mich. Cty tonight and after spending all the money and time to travel, will be devastated if either of the Mich Cty shows are rained out. Last year the prelims were.

Yeah just got the FB post about kids being led to "safe" areas of the school for the tornado warning. So now no last minute showdown with the top 5 until Michigan City.

That is SO true that FN like doesn't even know open class exists and it's frustrating because I don't know anything about these other shows either... except what DrumManTx just posted and what I saw from San Antonio. Good point. I don't know what the production costs are to film a show, but for my $65 it would be nice to get at least ONE open class show that includes all the corps competing BEFORE finals week.

Thanks DrumManTx and fsubone for bringin' some enthusiasm for these open class shows that kids have been sleeping on floors all summer to perform for us! I can't wait to see these shows either and I'll be right there for finals in Michigan City rooting for my Oregon homies but also loving all the shows! Open class gonna rock the house. Was there last year as well and the crowd was very good but of course the venue is the size of a large high school stadium.

Well I have to chime in and say what is drum corps about? Ticket purchasing audience or an opportunity for youth to do something extraordinary and character building? If corps are disappearing, as they appear to be quite markedly, then this opportunity for youth obviously is too.

I agree 100% with this post. DCI will have no corps to provide venues for if the starter organizations fail.

What I'd like to see more in the open class forum is discussions along the lines of: BDB just needs to clean this or that to overtake OC... OC's this or that caption has been unbeatable all season... Fantastic showing for the guard in last night's show for [insert corps name here] That type of thing. I'm not saying the threads need to go on and on and on. As a fan and DCPer I guess I just want more to read and get excited about as we head into finals week. Me thinks I want too much :(

Though I'm a Crusaders fan because my son marches with them, I love all the open class corps, love the dedication shown to these smaller corps that often have struggles just staying afloat. It seems like open class are like second class citizens in this drum corps world... to which I am very new i admit. I understand why the WC is so loved... they are phenomenal...but I'm telling you... pages and pages and pages of arguing about how tenths of points could be gained or lost and big shake ups and what not... it's all great... I guess I just don't understand why nobody has these knock down drag out conversations in the open class forum. Can anyone explain that to me? Is it simply lack of interest? I have had a ball following scores and rankings for open class, but I want more action!

As a big fan of open class I have to say it's rather pathetic that our threads here are considered long if they go over a few pages where as on WC threads... just having, for example, the words "blue devils" in it generates ad nauseum comments... please... take some interest in open class and post here! Open class corps kids sleep on busses and melt in the dog days of summer heat too! Big championship coming with a corps very possibly taking the title for the first time. And even if pigs fly and that doesn't happen, it's going to be a contest. Enthusiasm anyone?

If you're mom to a kid in Oregon Crusaders, then there IS plenty to talk about in the parking lot before OC prelims! (This gets confusing: Oregon Crusaders OC, open class OC - aahhh!) Anyway, I have never been more excited for these kids and they've worked so hard and are so hungry for the open class title. My son will be crushed if they come home with anything less than gold. But of course I know that BDB and SCVC are hungry too... and have worked hard... and are also deserving... so we'll just have to see what happens!

OC has really worked hard on bringing GE and guard scores up. Glad the judges noticed!

BDB gained on OC tonight (from Spring Valley). It's getting tighter up at the top! 1 Blue Devils B 87.050

Wish I could be there. Post away. I will eat up whatever you post. You're right, open class deserves much more love. I am following open class closely... It's a real contest and very exciting. We need to spread the word!

Love that double-tonguing section... one of my fave moments. I am loving all you corps aficionados pointing out the quotes. Keep it up. Anyone got a total count?

During the off season, my son is a computer guy, not outgoing, not very social, stays in his room, stays up late, sleeps late, etc. And then magically when camps start, he is working out and gung ho for corps. It's kind of an anomaly really! I once asked him what it was about corps that so motivated him and his answer was: "because it's so challenging." We need to keep these corps alive! My heart is breaking knowing that some kids lost out in two different corps in the same summer. I remember a few seasons ago, OC cut out one arm of the tour to save money and came back strong the next year... but it's really a year to year thing. The open class corps seem the most vulnerable. I do think private funding might be the best avenue. I once saw a documentary about polo teams... one can imagine how expensive it would be flying horses around the world, right? Well, the teams have benefactors that pick up the expenses when all is said and done. That's what drum corps needs!

yeah if an open class corps just happens to be in a show that is covered, like San Antonio, you can watch but otherwise... nope. The competition in OC this year is going to be very exciting... a horse race for sure!

I am mother to a member of OC and I can most assuredly say that they WANT THE OPEN CLASS title. I will withhold comment on whether or not they have WC aspirations.

For some kids, like my son, drum corps is the ONE thing that motivates him. If it weren't for drum corps, he would be a little lost right now. I support the activity because I fully believe it is helping prepare him for the challenges of life. Yes it is a financial burden and tensions would be eased if he chose instead to work over the summer but I guess in the long run I feel he has his whole life to work and of course his eligibility for corps is finite. My polnt in saying this is that I'm thankful that in spite of financial hard times, my son is able to participate in this activity that stirs his passion like no other. I am also thankful that he has found a stable organization (Oregon Crusaders) that is on the rise and so very fun to watch. Go OC! On another note: OC strikes a nice balance between regional and national touring.