DCPusername

I was not a fan of The Cadets this season. I was disappointed in the staff, frustrated for the members, and scared for the activity. I watched them tonight and FINALLY became a fan again. I'm glad to stand corrected. They came late to the party, but at least they're here. But the designers should still be flogged for not having a much better process. "Trust the process," George says. I'll trust it when you have one. If there were actually a trustworthy process they would've employed it far sooner. What we saw this season was trial and error, not the execution of a well crafted plan. Performers and audiences alike deserve better than to watch you try to decide what a show is going to be. The members should be proud of themselves. They persevered through a poorly planned season and still fought to be genuine in a risky context. The show will be fine in the end. But the designers should be ashamed for squandering so many performance opportunities by being unprepared. I'm honestly shocked that the team that couldn't decide what to do for months and months came up with anything as cohesive as last night's production. Perhaps it was Michael Lentz, maybe there was a last minute epiphany, or sometimes that blind squirrel just finds a nut. The faithful were rewarded. The fallen were pardoned. But I can't bring myself to forgive the sins of those who should've done better. Anyway, I'm glad the fans and members got what they want in the end. Thus ends this sermon. Go in peace.

First time since 1979 The Cadets didn't win a single show. Also, Cadets may break the record for longest show title announcement ever! Possibly the highest brass caption score for blue stars ever. Highest placement ever for Mandarins, even if it's not in finals. Possibly the highest placement and/or score for an open class corps. (Recognizing the accomplishments of Magic 2002, of course. But that was definitely an exception. Also, they were Div. II) Surely this will be the most speakers and microphones in finals ever.

Aaaaand ... the hair has been split. But it does have a ring of truth to it. Carry on.

This is the first simultaneously useful and uncontroversial post I've ever seen in this forum. Gold star!

FLO has invested the same amount of quality control in their algorithms as they have in video quality.

I've always thought of the Cadets as being "that corps" who could do the things you didn't think mere mortals can do. The design has always been good enough, but the members (and therefore instructors) were the amazing part of the equation. Last year and now this year, they just aren't good at being good. The Cadets have been about virtuosity for decades, even when the shows weren't amazing. That challenge is about hiring master teachers and experienced educators. Instruction causes learning, not design. I'd love nothing more than to see the Cadets back on top of the activity, but you can't play in that tier where the design is the variable unless you can build the best performers in DCI.

Why don't their uniforms fit? :(

Mark Zuckerberg for video caption head!

Do share :)

DMs count in DCI DMs don't count in DCA (unless that changed this year)

http://www.fromthepressbox.com/dci.html

Cavaliers had a pretty bad elections malfunction last night. I bet it hurt their score. Lots of sound effects missing.

Arya is Phantom's new DM

Glad to see Cavaliers coming out strong again. Can't wait to see them live!!!!!!!

Down 1.425 and in 3rd with 3 weeks to go is not insurmountable. In 2011, Cavies won the MN & TX regionals. Cadets were 4th in MN, 3rd in TX, 2nd in GA, 2nd in PA, and finally ended up in 1st on the LAST show of the season in NY. In 1996, Phantom was in 4th in Quarter-Finals down 3.7 points. They got 3rd in Semis and jumped to 1st (tie) at Finals. Go back a little further to 1991 - Star couldn't beat Cavies in the month of June. Cavies couldn't beat Star in the month of July. Cavies didn't beat Star in August until Semi-Finals. Star went 1st, 2nd, 3rd over finals week. Earlier that summer, Cavies had also lost to BD (finished 4th) and Phantom (finished 8th). Finally, google some good old Velvet Knights shows - Things aren't over until the fat lady sings (and gets eaten by a shark).

For the history buffs, the last time Cadets won in the Alamo Dome was 2000. The Cadets have never won in the Georgia dome. The last time Cadets won inside Atlanta's city limits was 1984. Thanks for the data corpsreps.com

No, it is not. No, it doesn't. It does sound mean. You know that line we shouldn't cross? Look behind you.

I'm guessing they held pioneer so judges could verify the last block of corps before writing down this number.

Did something come unplugged for Bluecoats?

If they go any faster, DCI will have to promote Cadets to NASCAR Class.

Oh no!!! The horses got away! Can you say, "sequel"?

Current rule gives them 15 feet in front of the sideline to use as they like. DM's are another set of rules (almost anywhere is fair game for "conductor only" members).

Does that make Tiger of San Pedro a nod to the 1979 Guardsmen?

Why are The Cadets are playing elevator music for their encore?

I get it. He sings, "Run boy run," and they run.