college-phan

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think Subal worked at Phantom back in the 2000s. Maybe he was a caption head or something? This design staff seems big on getting people they trust and have worked with in the past to work with them. I’m excited to see what he brings to the table, especially with the visual/guard design (which is what I think he would be contributing?). Hopefully the past issues are a case of limitations at Crown rather than something intrinsic.

Wow! 1,380 auditionees sounds insanely good, especially in modern DCI. Very excited to see what’s coming this season!

Just wanted to pop in and say hello to all the fellow phans and drop some thoughts off! I’ve spent all morning listening to Shaw hornlines at SCV and dang we are in for a treat. I don’t know how I forgot, but those Shaw books between 2016 and 2019 at SCV were absolutely ridiculous. Just the epitome of technicality and heart and innovation. I think they’re following the same playbook in building up the corps that they did in building back SCV starting in 2011 (although admittedly Phantom started in a much more treacherous position). Get a few years of foundational shows to establish fundamentals (SCV 2011-2014, Phantom 2021-2023/2024) then start pushing the envelope of what’s possible for the corps. I think innovative design is where this staff is headed based on their work at SCV between 2016 and 2019. I can’t wait to see them develop that brand at Phantom. I was thinking about this a few days ago and I gotta say, it’s rather ironic that Phantom took staff from SCV after what happened in 2011-2012. I love SCV, they’re probably my second or third favorite corps, but it’s just interesting how the universe works. It’s very weird to think about how large parts of the brass, visual, and percussion staffs that created Babylon in 2018 is now in Rockford (although I always said Babylon would’ve been a great Phantom show). I’m also very interested to see what happens with the Rennicks if SCV decides not to return in 2024 (which is what I’m leaning towards happening rn). I want Penland and Sammons in charge and all, but I could see the Rennicks serving in advisory roles, something like they do with Troopers. I don’t really see them going full-time anywhere at this moment, Phantom included. I hope everyone is doing well and the off-season is treating y’all alright! June can’t get here fast enough!

This is my biggest critique of this past season and I’m 99% sure we’ll see a big step forward next season. The whole visual staff has resumes that are steeped in marching-intensive shows. Gonna be very cool to see what they come up with next season now they’ve established the bent-leg technique with the potential vets.

Hope you get to feeling better soon! COVID definitely is not as much fun as listening to Phantom blow the roof off of Lucas Oil. But to get in my obligatory first post as well, I think next year will be the year the staff really locks in together and we start seeing Phantom take those next steps to be an annual top-six corps. As much as this past year was big for design and creating a new Phantom identity for today’s world, I think next year will continue to push the envelope with a show that’s much more technical and challenging, both in terms of music and drill.

To be fair, the current staff is made up of Phantom alums and Rennick protégés. They’ve also only been there for this past season. Give them a few years with some vet retention and I think they’ll start producing some pretty cool and unique results for the corps.

Since BD is just going to win every year regardless, the REAL Founder’s Trophy from now on is the Illinois State Championship😎

2023 was a huge step forward for Phantom and I’m thinking 2024 is going to be continue in that tradition! Excited to see what the corps brings to the table for what’s sure to be a super competitive season. SUTA!

I don’t care about scores, but that’s pretty ridiculous that Phantom fell. Oh well!

I don’t care what happens tonight score wise. That was Phantom Regiment. There’s no way Lucas Oil still has a roof after that performance. I’m beyond proud of this corps and staff for their work this season. Planting the seeds for some huge things in the years to come!

I know this wasn’t everyone’s favorite show (it was mine but I digress), but we can all agree on one thing: Phantom is back and not going anywhere any time soon. Big things coming in the next few years for the corps from Rockford. SUTA!

If this whole staff comes back, oh boy are we in for a treat. Estudillo and Hartwell on visual, JD with brass, the new guard and percussion staffs that are showing a lot of promise. I’m excited at the possibilities that could be in Phantom’s future.

Agreed. Percussion will have to take a step up in order for Phantom to be a top-six corps year-in and year-out. I have faith in that happening with them being a brand new staff of Phantom alumni from the Rennick pedigree. With a few years of vet retention and the ability to get more comfortable in arrangement and instruction, I think they’ll be a force in the community.

There’s at least one thing I know of that *could* be added, but after not seeing it last night, I figured they decided against it. I’m not aware of Phantom adding things in at semis or finals, but there’s a first time for everything, I guess.

I agree. I think taking them off would probably not hurt GE, but I think they might be helping out the visual proficiency scores quite considerably. Once they get locked-in with bent leg and have a strong veteran experience with the technique, it’s going to be a treat in those bright white uniforms, but it’s gonna take some time to get there.

There might be some truth to this, but now that I’m checking out the score sheet a bit more thoroughly, I’m seeing that they finished fifth in visual proficiency! That’s gotta be a record for a Phantom over the past decade or so haha. It was visual analysis that really brought them, which I’m a bit eh about. More of a subjective judging sub-caption and Phantom’s been stronger there this season, so we could (imo should) see a jump up tonight with a new judge. GE 2 is another sub-caption I’d look to change with new judges. The Music caption is ironically enough where a lot of the scoring problems lie for Phantom. I think they can push and get some more out of it with some new judges, but yeah. Personally, I don’t agree with Phantom getting 9th in brass content, but that’s just me. Music analysis imo should also be getting a bit more credit for its cohesiveness and ability to convey the concept. I like this upcoming panel of judges more than I did last night’s, so hopefully that’ll be reflected on the sheets for Phantom tonight and tomorrow.

I understand you might not like Phantom’s sound this year or maybe you just don’t like Phantom, but your last several comments have been on this subject and it’s became quite old. Your point has been made many times throughout the season and many times tonight and it simply does not need reiteration every time someone compliments Phantom or their hornline.

Is it still raining that hard? Looks like it’s eased up on my stream

From my info (I’m not super in-the-know when it comes to percussion), it’s a younger battery and front ensemble. I think they had a decent bit of membership turnover there. Again, I might be wrong, but that’s what I’ve heard.

Yeah this is my biggest take away from this season. They could end up in 5th, they could end up in 7th. This is still a huge step forward that will set them up to compete at the elite level for the foreseeable future. If there is any issue with this show, and I don’t think you can call it an issue, it’s just that the design staff wasn’t sure how talented the membership was and played it safe. That’s a very reasonable strategy too, considering it’s a fairly young corps. Also, I think we forget they completely switched marching techniques this season (which I think played a large part in the visual design for this 2023 show). Whatever happens this year, I see Phantom coming out for blood next season with a veteran membership, a difficult visual program, and a beefy brass book. If they build as I expect they will, they’re just going to fill the space that SCV left behind. They legitimately have the design staff to win a championship, it’s just all about ramping up to that point.

Last night wasn’t the best run, so I’m taking the fact they were only down by .150 as a pretty good thing. Music scores are a bit of a question mark, but I think a more energetic run could do them a lot of favors in raising them. Last night was just a little lethargic. To answer your question though, I’m pretty sure there a few other embellishments on the way to push them over the edge in Indy. Think something like the red banner things they pulled out at Indy last year.

I think tonight wasn’t as clean as a run tbh. If they put it together in Indy, it’ll be huge for GE (and everything else ofc)

Just a visual that Phantom has incorporated into a lot of their shows. Nice little sprinkle of history in changing times