MikeZ

Originally the top 17 was shown. I don't know the specific reason the number was changed from 17 to 15. The theater broadcast starts right after the largest break of the day, but dci could put that break wherever they needed to so it would line up with the theater broadcast. Z

You are right. Marie is on a personal vendetta to destroy the Bluecoats. I am sure after critique she high fives the other visual judges and loudly proclaims "SUCK IT BLUECOATS". People do understand that judging is subjective, and all scores are going to fluctuate from night to night. If there is no fluctuation in scores then people complain about slotting. The only thing that is certain is that someone is not going to like a number every night. Z

It frustrates me when people complain about BD doing the "same thing every year", yet people go crazy for Crown who have had quite a few similar design elements the past 5 years. This is in no way a knock on Crown (I've loved Crown 2007-2012), but they take ideas and elements they do well and reuse them. The "crown" set, the extended/forever chord, reusing tunes (promise of living, somewhere), crazy field coverage (typically ballad end zone to end zone), plus numerous other things. Just pointing out that most successful groups reuse themes and ideas. Mainly because they work. If a group is really COMPLETELY different every single year, then that group is probably not very successful. Z Finding it funny that people want Madison to be Madison, but want no part of Blue Devils being Blue Devils.

89 back to back of Regiment and Vanguard. Honorable mention to 94 cadets backfield "officer krumpke" front. Z

Does anyone have any info on the Bluecoats forward marching technique? During the theater broadcast, it appeared they were going toe first ALL the time. I've seen plenty of groups go toe first at slow tempos, but I don't know that I've seen a group go toe first at all tempos. I don't know if going toe first all the time appeals to me or not, but I was wondering the thought process behind the use of the toe first. Z

You think 2009 BD is the easiest brass book by a 1st place corps? I think 1992 Cavaliers may have something to say about that. Z

Gotta be 2000 Southwind for me. Top 12 in EVERY caption at semis, yet 13th place overall. Z

I will be happy if we can get a large "?" somewhere in the drill. That's not true...a little red, and a "?" in the drill. Z

It was impressive. That's why I think it's funny that after the release you hear approximately 15 people in the stands clap as everyone else sits on their hands. Madison does almost the exact same intro in 2010/2011 and the crowd goes nuts. Z

As for numbers. The 1996 Pioneer hornline was big, but not the biggest. That honor goes to 1997. I believe we marched anywhere from 58-60 in 1996, while I think 1997 topped out at 64. Although 1997 was a larger hornline, 1996 was far more talented. 97 had quite a few non brass players in the line, while 1996 consisted of almost entirely "brass" players. I believe that during the 96 season Pioneer beat every hornline in dci in performance brass with the exception of the top six and Magic. Check out the recaps from Allentown to get a sense of how well that hornline scored. The corps was strong across the board in all of the performance captions, but struggled quite a bit in GE. As for the placement in 1996. The corps finished second on div II/III and 20th at quarterfinals. It's funny that I marched 5 seasons and although 1996 was by far the best corps, it was also the lowest placing corps I marched in. I have thoughts on why the placement happened, and what happened to cause the drop in numbers in the late 90's, but those are opinions and not facts. That is a conversation I am much more comfortable having face to face, and not in a public forum. I strongly encourage anyone who has not heard or seen 1996 Pioneer to try to track down a recording. I think lots of folks would be pretty surprised at just how good that corps was. I am doing whatever small part I can to try to give back to the corps. Although I don't have extra cash to donate, I am goin to all the camps this winter/spring and helping out in whatever way I can. I would encourage any other alumni that has lost touch with the corps to stop by a camp and lend a hand, or send a check, or better yet a prospective member Pioneer's way. All the help would be greatly appreciated. Mike Zerhusen Pioneer Bari/Euph 1994-1998

I can fill in a little of the information about 1996 Pioneer. I won't mention how I felt about the placement, and why the corps finished where they finished. I will stick to facts about who was working with the corps and numbers. I will state that 1996 Pioneer was by far the best drumcorps I have been involved in and I have many great memories of that season...perhaps the best summer of my life. The percussion book in 1996 was written by Scott Johnson and Jeff Lee from Blue Devils. I don't know why, but they had written the percussion parts for the closer of the 1995 show. Why just the closer...I have no idea. I played baritone and have very little knowledge of the inner workings of the drum side of things. I do know we had one bass drummer and one pit member march BD the next season, and I believe one other member of the snare section ended up in Concord before his matching career was over. Todd Ryan wrote the drill in 1996. He was the drill writer for Pioneer for most of the 90's with his last season as drill writer being 1997. He would usually work with the corps for a camp or two during the winter, and would occasionally be around as he was finishing up with the drill. It is still a great thrill to say that I was taught (for a very small amount of time) by a dci hall of famer

The first note of 1996 BD. For me nothing else is close.

DCI represents the past of their "finalists" on the fan network. If you would like to buy a recording of 1996 Kiwanis Kavaliers, it appears you are out of luck. Still keeping my fingers crossed that sometime in the future, non-finalist corps will be available for purchase. Z

Thanks Michael for all of the looks back at great shows over the years. I understand why the downloads are top twelve shows only, but really wish we could hear your thoughts on some non-finalist shows. Ones that jump to mind immediately are 1991 Spirit of Atlanta, 2000 Southwind, and 1990 Academie Musicale. I would LOVE it if sometime in the future we could get some of the great lesser known non-finalist shows available for download. Z

1. Allentown 2. Michigan City, Ames Field 3. whitewater WI, 4. Camp Randall 5. Hampton, VA 6. Dekalb, IL 7. Stillwater, MN 8. Mile High (version 1.0) 9. Cotton Bowl 10.Glass Bowl You can tell I marched in DCM back in the day. Z

I'm pretty sure 2012 is the year of the dragon, not the year of the rat pack. I'll have to go consult a Chinese calendar. Z

I'm a big fan of 1996 Madison as well. That said, Bolero was ROUGH for a good chunk of that summer. I was glad things got much better the last couple weeks of the season. 95-97 Madison was a very solid three year run. Z

Wasn't Hegemier 1995? Z

Doing push-ups will not help you hold up a euphonium. Z Euph player.

I make it a point to check out the American Flag and honor guard at retreat at finals every year. Since retreats are not held during the season anymore, and for most corps it is a one time a year thing, I expect that there will be some mistakes presenting the Flag. I am not crazy upset when mistakes are made, but I do appreciate the corps that take the time to make sure the details are correct. Back when I marched (mid 90's) I felt like most members of the corps knew the proper way to display the Flag. Only now, do I realize that there were probably mistakes made at the first show or two of the year. When you did 30-35 retreats a year you had plenty of practice getting things right. In 2011 corps for the most part have one shot. Every the past few years at finals I always wonder if retreat will turn into a cluster *uck. How are traditions passed down. Do kids in corps today know about not going over the line, or is that no longer a big deal? I think the problems with the presentation of the flag is mostly due to the "one off" nature of retreats in 2011. Knowing that corps/kids are not purposely being disrespectful makes it hard for me to get my panties in a wad. The bottom line is that I would be all for more retreats throughout the year...even if only on the weekends. And yes, I do know the benefits to the corps of not having retreat. Z

PR's East of Eden and Crossmen's Hallelujah are the two that I can't stop humming. So happy to have Chuck Naffier back at Bones. Z

JD to Vanguard with Rennick??? Z

Saying why the corps recruited so well in the mid 90's would be pure speculation on my part. Remember, I was a member...I knew my music and my drill, but was far less aware of the inner/behind the scenes workings of the corps. I do know the corps had a strong affiliation with Murray State University specifically and the state of Kentucky in general that sent a large pipeline of members to the corps. I am guessing that as the "Murray" kids aged out and Southwind set up shop in Lexington in 1999 that the Kentucky pipeline of members dried up. I am sure there are other factors that I am not aware of, and I don't want this to sound like any type of an official response. I am just one former member speculating on what one factor may have been that led to smaller numbers many years ago. Again, all I can do is pledge my support to the corps for 2012, and hope other alumni will do the same. Z A Kentucky resident who marched Pioneer.

I am not going to speculate about anything that is going on with Pioneer. I marched Pioneer from 1994-1998. As an alumni of the corps it is time for me to stop saying "what is wrong with the corps", and start saying "what can I do to help the corps". Most people on dcp give their 30 second answer of how Pioneer can be fixed, and then don't think about the corps again until the next thread comes up. I have briefly spoken to Roman a few times this summer and have told him I am ready to help out the corps any way I can in 2012. If they need me to cook, I will cook. If they need me to recruit, I will recruit. More alumni (especially from the 90's) need to step up and start getting their hands dirty in an effort to help the corps. I don't know if "I" can make a difference, but I would bet that me and 20 folks I marched with CAN make a difference. Here's hoping my fellow alumni and I can make the 2012 version of Pioneer a stronger group than the 2011 version. Mike Zerhusen Pioneer bari/euph 94-98 "Better Everyday"

It has been top 15 for the past 4 or 5 years. Originally the top 17 were shown live. Not sure why the change happened. One theory would be to line up with the normal break after corps 16. The "lunch"/longer intermission is at this time, and then the live broadcast picks when the intermission is over...with corps 15-1. Z