Contrabassman2000

eddie, what do you say to a Div II two corps that may not have applied for Div I statues but still placed in the top 17 overall?

although, the corps would not want to go from being top 3 DII to not making finals in DI (read: Esperanza, Magic after 2003, Mandarins, Academy, Pacific Crest)

To begin this post let me first say that I am no longer affiliated with The Spartans and have nothing to go on but the feelings of marchers and staff from about two years ago. I do not think The Spartans will (or should) go DI. first, there is a substancial feleing of "if it ain't broke don't fix it" in the corps, correct me if i'm wrong, but most would rather contend for DII every year than probably not make finals in DI. Second the corps does not get the kind of membership to be competitive in DI the corps usually fields somewhere in the 100 member range, and in recent years thats been less that some of the other DII corps, let alone trying to complete with the big guys. Also, most of the members who do march there need to be able to hold jobs throughout the summer. with the current schedule of rehearsing on nights and weekends kids could hold part time or even almost full time jobs and be able to march, also many of the people there are there to march a DII corps, sure most of us dream about going big and marching a top 12, adn some do, but most can't afford it, or can't take the time to do it. and so they stay in a respected competitive DII corps. I think that everytime a corps goes DI the DII/III actiuvity suffers. not only is there now one less corps to march, but there is also this expression of DII/III being 'not good enough' Steps should be taken to improve the lower divisions to get corps to start/ and stay there. My personal feeling has always been that all corps regardless of division should be judged on the same sheets, so that scores can be directly compared. I also think corps of all divisio9ns should compete together at quarterfinals, semis, and finals. and whenever the last corps in a division is eliminated, they are division champions. for example: Spartans finish the season with a score in the hiogh 80's they fall in between Arizona and Spirit, unfortunetly they don't make finals, but they are DII champions, and placed 13 overall. thats would be how i'd like to see corps scored, i think it wqould promote the DII activity by placing them at the same level as DII, even if most of the DI corps score higher.

I looked at this year as an almost mirror to 2004. In 2003 Spartans came in 3rd with Patriots in 2nd and Esperanza in 1st, ECJ was a pretty far 4th if I recall. In 2006 Spartans came in 3rd with ECJ in 2nd and Acedemy in 1st. Surf was back in the pack. both years the 1st place corps jumped to DI both years the 2nd place corps folded (or went inactive) both years (2004, and now 2007) appeared to be easy win years for the Spartans the spread in 2004 between 1st place Spartans and 2nd plcae ECJ: 0.025 it looks like it may be even tighter this year.

look at the recent years with Spartans and ECJ on or near the top.. thinking like 2005 OC, Surf, and Blue Stars were all bigger corps.

HOLY CONSPIRACY BATMAN!!!!

well... he does know an awful lot, he has darn near a decade of corps experience..and hasn't aged out yet!

I think it probably has more to do with the amount of shows right off the bat. In seasons past the corps would have one, maybe two shows on opening weekend, then nothing but rehearsal for a week, next weekend we'd be up several points. this corps has had to go one a tour for its first performances, not something even the vets would be used to.

this was discussed last year. Spopkane Thunder, Seattle Cascades, and Oregon Crusaders are a single corps. the Pacific Northwest Cathundercades.

bottom line, Spartans will win, it'll be an essential repeat of 2004...reasoning: 2003, Spartans come in third place behind Patriots and Esparanza 2004: Patriots fold, and Esparanza goes DI, Spartans win by a quarter tenth 2006: Spartans come in third place behind East Coast Jazz and Arizona Academy 2007: East Coast Jazz fold, and Arizona Academy goes DI, Spartans will win by a quarter tenth my guess for 2nd place......Jersey Surf... but OC and SCVC will have a coastal advantage.

yeah, last year thursday night's show was "division finals" and The Spartans (who won that show) got gold medal that read "2005 Division II Divsional Champions" saturday's show (which ECJ won) Was Div II/III "world Championships" they got to go on at DIV I retreat and are "world Champions" at all the shows on the East Coast this year, Spartans were introduced as "Defending Division II champions" and ECJ got introduced as "Defending Division II/III world Champions" I guess sementics really. for my money, finals are on saturday, and ECJ won saturday. ECJ won the season in 2005.

wait........ECJ beating Spartans is revenge for last year? Am I missing someting? I'm fairly certain ECJ won world Finals last year? If you want to travel back in time a ways and call it revenge for the .025 point spread in '04, or the tie in '98....uh, ok.

all thats left to be said on the ECJ & Spartans vs. OC BDB and Academy argument... (and i know ECJ isn't go to be there, but still).........Jackson, TN......

and at least they were nice brass sousas. now if they were fiberglass, people could get upset.

hey, could anybody hook me up with a link or more info regarding those t-shirts? I'd like to try and buy 7 of them to be shipped to the east. GO JESTER!! let the kids play!

Ya, alot of highschoolers in this area have just recently graduated / ended. recently like last week.

as far as a corps in DII being as good as a top 15 or top 12 DI corps, just look at any of the recent DII champs, subtract ten points from their score (approx for the sheet difference) and they're (ECJ '05, Spartans '04 etc.) in that top bracket of DI.

amen

Spartans 2003 was a Robert W. Smith piece (Divine Comedy) arr. by Dan Lutz Spartans 2004 was a Key Poulan Band Piece (The Medusa) Arr. by Dan lutz Spartans 2005 is an Original by Key Poulan, no arr. necessary.