amadorj Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 One thing that I always enjoy each football season is hearing who won the annual ALL-MADDEN Awards. John Madden is a football icon, having been a coach (Oakland Raiders), a color commentator for NFL telecasts, inducted into the Football Hall of Fame, and is the front man for the hugely successful Madden NFL video game. What does it mean to receive an ALL-MADDEN Award? Getting an ALL-MADDEN award covers a wide range of areas, but doesn't always look at the best football team on the field, or the best football player on the field. Instead, the ALL-MADDEN looks at the player who has consistently gone above and beyond in his performance on the field of play. A player who exemplifies greatness. Recipients of past ALL-MADDEN awards include Jack Youngblood, who played out a game with a broken leg; or Lawrence Taylor, who continually wreaked havoc on offenses throughout the league. Getting an ALL-MADDEN Award has come to symbolize achieving greatness on the football field. So what if we took that theme over to the drum corps world? If we were to look at drum corps in the same light that John Madden looks at football, whom might we name an ALL-MADDEN Award after in drum corps? First, lets bring this into prospective by looking back into drum corps history. Who in the world of drum corps would compare in stature to John Madden? While there are many candidates to consider, I believe one in particular clearly stands out - Gail Royer, former SCV Director. Why? Well, Gail Royer started out in the drum corps world as a brass judge (VFW/AL days), eventually moving on to teach brass to a small drum corps out of Sunnyvale, California, the Sparks. This small corps eventually became the Santa Clara Vanguard. Gail has done it all – judging, writing the musical score, designing the show, teaching the horn line, working as the corps director. He was also instrumental in starting DCI along with Jim Jones, Dave Kampschroer, Bill Howard, and Don Warren. Gail contributed so much to the development and growth of drum corps, so I thought it fitting to name these hypothetical drum corps awards the "ALL-ROYER" Awards. Whatever Gail did in drum corps he did with heart and passion, exemplifying the essence of the ALL-MADDEN concept. To his peers, Gail could be gruff and abrasive; with his kids, there was that at times. What we remember, though, was his thoughtfulness and respect for each of us, his delight in our successes and achievements, both on and off the field. He loved his kids! He dedicated his life to drum corps. Gail's style and contributions to the activity, much like John Madden's to football, cover all aspects of drum corps so I thought, "Why not?" Here are my 2011 "ALL-ROYER AWARDS". Ok – here are the categories that will be looked at – Best Horn Line; Best Drum Line; Best Color Guard; Best Overall. Now I know you perfectionists out there will jump on this one because I said drums - "it's not drums, it's percussion!" Well this is HARD CORE drum corps, and in keeping with the ALL-MADDEN theme, we are going to make this HARD "CORPS" (no pun intended!), so the captions listed above are what I've decided to go with, as they are more in line with what an ALL-MADDEN Award would follow. For this drum corps season (2011) we're only going to look at the Top 12 Finalist Drum Corps, with the goal of expanding the list in following years (if this catches on). Selecting the winner of the ALL-ROYER is not based on DCI scoring; criteria is again reminiscent of the ALL-MADDEN Award perspective in which the drum corps (or section) that best displays greatness is the one selected. And that's the difference with the ALL-ROYER Awards; we are acknowledging greatness, not necessarily best score. First, congratulations to the Cadets from Allentown on their hard fought battle culminating in this year's 2011 DCI Championship. Early this year it was a horse race with a number of corps jockeying for position, winding down to a close finale, with the Cadets winning by a nose over the Blue Devils. Congratulations to the Cadets, George Hopkins, and all the staff on their very well deserved championship! Congratulations to all the ALL-ROYER Winners!!! Here are the winners of the first annual "ALL-ROYER AWARD" for 2011 ALL-ROYER HORN LINE WINNER ALL-ROYER (HORN LINE) Madison Scouts While Madison may not have had the best horn line from a precision and technical standpoint, their passionate, heart and soul, and "wall of sound" rattled the rafters of Lucas Oil Stadium. Emotion was the word for this group of kids and you could see it on every Scout's face on the field. These kids lived this show and were telling their heartfelt story. That "wall of sound" was there when they needed it the most, and in the end these kids ripped your heart out and made your eyes water. The finale had us gasping and saying "WOW", and had us up and out of our seats, screaming our heads off and cheering them on! They controlled the highlight moment for this year with the closer - Empire State of Mind! This year's ALL-ROYER HORN LINE award goes to the Madison Scouts – (if I may) BYBO!!! 1st Runner Up Carolina Crown It was close. Crown took a big chance going with a "Rach" theme, but #### if they didn't pull it off. The horns were both clean and precise, and their excitement level made you want to run out to the edge of the stands, raise your hands out with devil horns and start screaming out "RACH ON"! Even made me want to run down to the field and bust up a guitar! What a fun show and you could feel the joy these kids had in playing it this year! From the Queen opener to the Freebird ending this horn line entertained, and did it with an ear-to-ear grin on their face. From soft elements of the program to the driving, pounding sounds, Crown performed and performed with incredible "RACH" style for their audience. Some said it was a bit cheesy but not from my prospective – this was a fun show, they had a blast playing it this year, and the crowd ate it up! This year's 1st Runner Up for the ALL-ROYER HORN LINE. Magnificent horn line! "RACH" ON!!! Honorable mention Phantom Regiment Beauty and grace was the essence of Juliet. Beauty was the Phantom horn line this year. Simple songs with a familiar theme, this production drew such emotion from the crowd, always closing with a stadium of cheering fans on their feet. In all honesty, when I saw the show early in the year I wasn't sold on the concept. But from the San Antonio Show on, this production really came together, and in typical Phantom Regiment fashion ("the Spartacus push") they completely took over every stadium they performed in. Their grand finale touched our hearts and brought tears to our eyes – best Kleenex moment of the year! Honorable Mention for the ALL-ROYER HORN LINE – Phantom Regiment (SUTA!) ALL-ROYER DRUM LINE WINNER ALL-ROYER (DRUM LINE): Blue Devils This was an extremely tight category with so many great drum lines competing this drum corps season. Between the Cavaliers, Blue Devils, Santa Clara Vanguard, Bluecoats, and others we were all very fortunate to see truly great drum lines raise the bar on percussion (ok I said percussion but I meant drums!). Without a doubt, the drum lines this year have risen to new heights, and the Blue Devils are leading that push. One thing that makes the Blue Devils stand out is their ability to excel at what they do while making it look utterly effortless. What talent! These guys mesmerize with their skill and style. I found myself completely "lost" in their section, oblivious at times to the other parts of the show going on. The Blue Devils drum line is that great! This year's ALL-ROYER Drum Line Award goes to the Blue Devils. 1st Runner Up: Cavaliers The Cavies have taken drums to new variations of performance, literally turning the drum world upside down! Who can forget seeing that moment for the first time?! The Cavies move around the field as if they have no instruments on – these guys fly around the field while maintaining the rhythms like they're standing still. While most of us would be on the ground, choking and gasping for air, these guys can keep up the relentless tempo and lay it down on the field with their fascinating stick work. Whether they are on top of their drum or upside down – they nailed this show. They deserved to take the Stanford Award home this year. This year's 1st Runner Up for the ALL-ROYER Drum Line Award goes to the - פɹƎƎN W∀ƆHINƎ! (upside down writing) Honorable Mention: Santa Clara Vanguard Seeing the Santa Clara Vanguard drum line this year brought back memories of Fred Sanford (whom DCI's Top Drum Trophy is named after) standing in front of the SCV drum line, drum sticks in his hands "dut – dut – dutting" away. TIGHT is the word that comes to mind with this drum line. These guys play together like they've been doing it since birth. Great to see the SCV back! This drum line brings back visions of the strong SCV drum lines of years past. You saw greatness with in that final push, the drum line plowing forward like a cowcatcher on a train as they broke their way through the corps. I see Sanford Awards in the future for these talented kids. This year's Honorable Mention for the ALL-ROYER Drum Line goes to the Santa Clara Vanguard - JONZ!!! ALL-ROYER COLOR GUARD WINNER ALL-ROYER (COLOR GUARD) Carolina Crown Being a color guard member with Crown this year must have been a total Blast (sorry Jim Mason). From the moment they take to the field, firing up the crowd, clapping (boom-boom-clap), singing ("We will we will Rach you"), they owned the stage. This guard completely embodied the emotion and theme of Crown's Rach Star program. Magnificent rifle work, great flag work, dance … you name it, they nailed it all. They were the rockers and the groupies! Watching Herbert work the crowd was a joy to watch this season. Looking into the eyes of those kids, you saw the joy and passion of performance, over and over again. They were having fun. Crown's guard consistently performed with precision and finesse, making us all believe there was no place on earth they would rather be right now than right here, working the field for us. This year's ALL-ROYER Color Guard Award goes to Carolina Crown – RACH ON!!! 1st Runner Up (COLOR GUARD): Cadets My first thought upon seeing this show was "How cool it would be to be a demon!" From the time the corps enters the field till the very end, these Cadets have you in complete suspense, waiting to see what is going to happen next. Division, threat, battle, and finally victory … this guard guided us through it all. The field battle in slow motion was perfection in movement. This was one of more complex guard shows, with one guard on the "evil" side exuding strength and arrogance, while the opposing guard on the "angelic" side personified grace and poise. I watched this guard evolve over the season, from the early show in Albuquerque, to Denver, San Antonio, and finally DCI Finals. These kids developed and grew in their roles with every tweak and adjustment throughout the season, becoming more "angelic" or "demonic" every step of the way. Their skills with equipment were second to none. They consistently performed with precision and elegance, and the crowds responded. And they never stopped moving! Cadets' guard brought it all together at precisely the right time, and it was pure joy to watch. The beauty of this finale brought us all to the gates of heaven. This year's 1st Runner Up for the ALL-ROYER Color Guard Award goes to the Cadets (both the Angels and the Demons) Honorable Mention (COLOR GUARD): (tie) Santa Clara Vanguard/Phantom Regiment I couldn't make up my mind as each of these corps captured me in such different ways. With Phantom it was the grace, beauty, and elegance of the Juliets – pure poetry in motion. And then there is SCV's color guard – haunting, dark, endlessly hunting their next victim. Constantly in motion, writhing in the agony of hell, they never stopped moving and entertaining us with their powerful dance movements, captivating us with their equipment skills, such as throwing those large (and awkward) batons high into the air, apparently catching with ease before pounding them on the ground in success. The choreography of Phantom's color guard was perfect as they danced across the field from end zone to end zone, whirling and moving as one. The effortless symmetry and beauty of their movement belied the endless hours spent in practice in the pursuit of such perfection. Both guards performed without gimmicks and props, and presented a pure color guard show that was always on the move and hit the marks. Sorry, I couldn't make up my mind so I had to go with both. This year's Honorable Mention for the ALL-ROYER Color Guard Award goes to the Santa Clara Vanguard and Phantom Regiment. NOW FOR THE ALL-ROYER OVERALL AWARD WINNER ALL-ROYER (OVERALL) Madison Scouts At every single show I attended this year, as I mingled and worked my way through the crowd, the question of the night was always the same: "What time does Madison go on?" As that time approached, people would be hightailing it back to the stands to make sure they got back in time to see the Madison Scouts. Why? Simple - these people wanted to be entertained, and entertain Madison did. Call it "old school" drum corps or whatever you like, but Madison has it and consistently delivers it well. Like Jack Youngblood playing football with a broken leg, Madison goes out on the field, warts and all, and delivers a show that brings you to your feet screaming. From the trademark "wall of sound" coming from the horn line, to the fast paced color guard flying through the newspapers, to the percussion line putting out the sounds of New York … it all came together with this show and they captivated audiences wherever they performed. And they carried it off in a simple scout uniform (no fluff). The melody of Madison's "Empire State of Mind" continues to echo though my head as I remember riding the wave of emotion with the crowd around me as we stood in unison, feet cheering and wanting more. Encore - Encore!!! This year's ALL-ROYER OVERALL show goes to the Madison Scouts – (to my Madison brothers and with your permission Mr. Howard) MYNWA 1st Runner Up (OVERALL): Carolina Crown Boom-boom-clap, boom-boom-clap! Who knew that drum corps could be so much fun. What a joy to watch Carolina Crown on the field this corps season. It was a show of "Rach Stars", with Herbert lighting up the field with his constant smile, flying rifle tosses, never missing a beat, always making it look so effortless. From beginning to end this corps had you in the palms of their hands. Old school? No. Innovative and entertaining? Yes. I'm still humming "Paint it Black" and it's been days since DCI Finals! If you want to party on then this is the corps to do it with – from the Mosh Pit, to their signature Crown, to the finale of Freebird, Carolina Crown truly "RACHed" us this entire season! I would be thrilled to see Herbert smash his guitar just one more time! This year's ALL-ROYER OVERALL 1st Runner Up Show goes to the Carolina Crown – RACH ON!!! Honorable Mention (OVERALL): Blue Knights Consistency is the operating word here. When the Blue Knights debuted their 2011 program, "An English Folk Song Suite", it was immediately apparent that a new BK had emerged. We were treated to a lighter, melodic musical program, and fluid drill. As many of the corps were moving up and down in the rankings throughout the year, it seemed that the Blue Knights were quietly and consistently climbing the ladder. With a nod to a couple of "old school" drum corps greats (the 27th Lancers and Anaheim Kingsmen), they quickly became fan favorites as the season moved on. Very much like Gene Upshaw, who consistently plugged away at his craft, keeping defensive players off his quarterback. So too did the Blue Knights, improving show after show, all the while keeping their audiences fully entertained. It wasn't a gripping show like Madison's, nor did it have some of the heartfelt moments of Phantom, but it embraced that old school charm that we've all come to love from years past. It was as though these kids of 2011 were channeling some of that old 27th Lancers and Anaheim Kingsmen sound into this beautiful program they made their own. "Sure hate to follow the Scouts!" was heard over and over this year, but the Blue Knights did just that on a number of occasions throughout the season, performing with confidence and dignity, winning over the hearts of their audience. This year's ALL-ROYER OVERALL Honorable Mention Show goes to the Blue Knights – Go English Baby (MFBK)! CLOSING That wraps up this year's ALL-ROYER AWARDS. Some of you will agree with some or all of my choices, many will probably disagree with my choices. But it's not the DCI judges' scores that win the hearts and minds of the drum corps fan; it's the drum corps kids on the field, night after night, performing with all they have to give, selling their show to us, the fans. That is what reaches out and touches so many of us. And that, my friend, is why we keep coming back to see drum corps each season. These kids put their heart and soul into each show, staring up into this sea of faces at the conclusion of each finale, reveling in the applause we send down to them. Yes, I marched "back in the day", but what a different world that was. I'm truly amazed at the level of performance required of these kids today, knowing I could never measure up (this ain't your mama's drum corps anymore!). The electronics, the guitars, the talking … like it or not, these are components of drum corps today. I looked at the crowd at this year's Finals, and the stands were filled from end zone to end zone, and top to bottom. So it's obvious to me if you don't like todays drum corps there is someone else more than willing to fill your seat. Some call it progress, others just another evolution of the times. I'll bet some people freaked when the forward pass was introduced into football. So to me it's just the next level of drum corps, and these kids will carry it forward, having a blast performing it along the way. Till next drum corps season's ALL-ROYER Awards – RACH ON!!! Annual "ALL-ROYER DRUM CORPS" Awards 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glory Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 I'm just going to say this: Neither Madden nor Royer would have been seduced by the hype. HH 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldskl3rings Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Nice post Jesse! Although the Madden awards winners were selected by the man himself, it’s not possible for GR to make the selections. I guess if anyone could channel Gail, it would be you. If you start walking around with a plastic cup in your hands all the time, watch out! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjordansc Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 What was this? The All-Madison awards? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFZFAN Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 (edited) What was this? The All-Madison awards? Works for me Edited August 22, 2011 by SFZFAN 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stnap Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Yeah you lost me as soon as you said Madison wins best hornline. Not a chance. Not even best closer (phantom wins that in my book, I've never had goosebumps like I did at their finals peformance). They do win the most hyped award though, hands down. They were entertaining, and I thoroughly enjoyed their show, but they didn't have the best anything imo, and certainly not best hornline. That being said, wonderful show from Madison this year, keep coming back with shows like that every year :) 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldskl3rings Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 What was this? The All-Madison awards? Yeah you lost me as soon as you said Madison wins best hornline. Not a chance. Not even best closer (phantom wins that in my book, I've never had goosebumps like I did at their finals peformance). They do win the most hyped award though, hands down. They were entertaining, and I thoroughly enjoyed their show, but they didn't have the best anything imo, and certainly not best hornline. That being said, wonderful show from Madison this year, keep coming back with shows like that every year :) Did you even read the whole post? "Getting an ALL-MADDEN award covers a wide range of areas, but doesn't always look at the best football team on the field, or the best football player on the field. Instead, the ALL-MADDEN looks at the player who has consistently gone above and beyond in his performance on the field of play. A player who exemplifies greatness." The explanations are included in each pick. You may not agree with them, fine, but the whole point of the post was fun. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stnap Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Did you even read the whole post? "Getting an ALL-MADDEN award covers a wide range of areas, but doesn't always look at the best football team on the field, or the best football player on the field. Instead, the ALL-MADDEN looks at the player who has consistently gone above and beyond in his performance on the field of play. A player who exemplifies greatness." The explanations are included in each pick. You may not agree with them, fine, but the whole point of the post was fun. Okay, great. He posted his opinion, I posted mine. Why not get upset at the OP for posting his opinions too? You should be thankful that the three of us are providing you with something to read to fill your DCI fix :p 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
endy29 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Okay, great. He posted his opinion, I posted mine. Why not get upset at the OP for posting his opinions too? You should be thankful that the three of us are providing you with something to read to fill your DCI fix :p Perhaps his opinion was one of looking for the positives he saw rather from one based on derision? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Dixon Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 um ok this list is a bit odd... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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