Who will this years Dark Horse(s) be?

[Jim Clark]

Spirit... because I believe.

[soccerguy315]

everyone in the 13-17 range is a dark horse for finals.

everyone in the 6+ range is a dark horse for top 5.

[derbydawg]

Had to go with Spirit of Atlanta and Scouts.

[recketscience]

After last night's show, this was easy for me, SOA.

[BRASSO]

everyone in the 13-17 range is a dark horse for finals.

everyone in the 6+ range is a dark horse for top 5.

I guess it all depends on people's definition of a darkhorse. My definition of a darkhorse would be any Corps that in the end will move up more than 2 placement positions from the previous year. For example, Madison Scouts and Bluecoats qualified for darkhorse last year as they both moved up " more than 2 placement positions " between 2009 and 2010. ( Bluecoats, moved up 3 positions, Madison moved up 5 positions ). No other Corps of the 20 some odd DCI Corps moved up 2 or more placement positions from 2009 to 2010.

What Corps this year will move up more than 2 placement positions from 2010 ? I have no idea right now as it's just too early to know, especially given the partial 5 judge panels we have now. We should know a little more in a couple of weeks. I think The Cadets have a great shot though. They finished 5th last year. Perhaps they move up to 1st or 2nd. Otherwise, I don't see any Corps that sticks out right now that might move up more than 2 spots from last year.

Edited June 23, 2011 by BRASSO

[Caveman28469]

SOA.

[BRASSO]

SOA.

Spirit of Atlanta finished 16th last year. They'd have to finish 13th to qualify under my definition. That might be doable. They'd have to jump over Troopers, The Academy, Colts, etc... but it certainly is doable it would seem.

[EuphMMXI]

I guess it all depends on people's definition of a darkhorse. My definition of a darkhorse would be any Corps that in the end will move up more than 2 placement positions from the previous year. For example, Madison Scouts and Bluecoats qualified for darkhorse last year as they both moved up " more than 2 placement positions " between 2009 and 2010. ( Bluecoats, moved up 3 positions, Madison moved up 5 positions ). No other Corps of the 20 some odd DCI Corps moved up 2 or more placement positions from 2009 to 2010.

What Corps this year will move up more than 2 placement positions from 2010 ? I have no idea right now as it's just too early to know, especially given the partial 5 judge panels we have now. We should know a little more in a couple of weeks. I think The Cadets have a great shot though. They finished 5th last year. Perhaps they move up to 1st or 2nd. Otherwise, I don't see any Corps that sticks out right now that might move up more than 2 spots from last year.

Good definition. Following your definition id say Cadets and SOA.

[GeneralTsoChicken]

I say Academy.

You can only throw so much money and good staff at a program for so long before it finally breaks through.

Their brass staff is a top 5 brass staff, not a non-finalist brass staff.

[BRASSO]

I say Academy.

You can only throw so much money and good staff at a program for so long before it finally breaks through.

Their brass staff is a top 5 brass staff, not a non-finalist brass staff.

This is another Corps I'm looking forward to this season. They've been right on the cusp of breaking into the Top 12 the last 2 seasons ( at 14th). I liked their show last year " Strangers in Paradise ".

Edited June 23, 2011 by BRASSO