How Many Above 90?

[N.E. Brigand]

I will say the top eight will break 90. I doubt any others because that would be too much of a bunch in scores Finals night.

Was that not also true in 1992, 2004, and last year?

[mcjordansc]

Was that not also true in 1992, 2004, and last year?

So, three years out of the last 22 there were more than eight? I would say there is a pretty good chance that eight will be the cutoff again this year.

[N.E. Brigand]

So, three years out of the last 22 there were more than eight? I would say there is a pretty good chance that eight will be the cutoff again this year.

Well, sure, as noted several posts above, the average number of corps above 90 historically has been 7.6. (And it was three years out of the last 30, by the way, not just the last 22.) All that math has already been done. Which does mean, yes, seven is likelier than nine. But you didn't say anything about probabilities. You said that nine corps above 90 would be "too much of a bunch", and I just wanted to know why that didn't apply to those three years.

Edited July 23, 2014 by N.E. Brigand

[Pete Freedman]

The more bunched they are, the more caption ties will happen. These (apparently) are unacceptable for some reason so the judges add a point to one of the tying units to break the tie. This of course affects the aggregate score by .1.

Now, if you have too many bunched up in the 90s you will have the chance of several top corps tying in a caption, resulting in a corps being gifted several tenths in the final score, and unjustly winning the DCI championship. This may even have happened - we'll probably never know.

I say give the judges a full tenth to work with (translating to 0.01 in the final score). Until then, those who said "Too many" were spot on. Stretch the range and give these corps some breathing room.

[N.E. Brigand]

For the 30 years starting in 1984, these are the figures:

Average number of corps achieving 99: 0.1

Fewest corps achieving 99: 0 (twenty-seven years)

Most corps achieving 99: 1 (2002, 2005, 2009)

Average number of corps achieving 98: 0.9

Fewest corps achieving 98: 0 (nine years)

Most corps achieving 98: 2 (1989, 1999, 2004, 2008, 2013)

Average number of corps achieving 97: 2.2

Fewest corps achieving 97: 1 (four years)

Most corps achieving 97: 3 (1984, 1985, 1989, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2009)

Average number of corps achieving 96: 3.1

Fewest corps achieving 96: 2 (three years)

Most corps achieving 96: 4 (1988, 1998, 1999, 2008, 2009, 2013)

Average number of corps achieving 95: 3.9

Fewest corps achieving 95: 2 (one year)

Most corps achieving 95: 6 (1989)

Average number of corps achieving 94: 4.7

Fewest corps achieving 94: 3 (two years)

Most corps achieving 94: 7 (2007)

Average number of corps achieving 93: 5.4

Fewest corps achieving 93: 4 (five years)

Most corps achieving 93: 7 (1989, 2007, 2008)

Average number of corps achieving 92: 6.1

Fewest corps achieving 92: 5 (seven years)

Most corps achieving 92: 7 (1984, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1997, 1999, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011)

Average number of corps achieving 91: 6.7

Fewest corps achieving 91: 5 (two years)

Most corps achieving 91: 8 (1992, 2002, 2004, 2010)

Average number of corps achieving 90: 7.6

Fewest corps achieving 90: 6 (five years)

Most corps achieving 90: 9 (1992, 2004, 2013)

Average number of corps achieving 89: 8.1

Fewest corps achieving 89: 6 (two years)

Most corps achieving 89: 10 (1988)

Average number of corps achieving 88: 8.7

Fewest corps achieving 88: 6 (one year)

Most corps achieving 88: 10 (1988, 2005, 2010)

Average number of corps achieving 87: 9.4

Fewest corps achieving 87: 6 (one year)

Most corps achieving 87: 11 (1989, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010)

Average number of corps achieving 86: 10.0

Fewest corps achieving 86: 7 (two years)

Most corps achieving 86: 12 (1999, 2005)

1. 99.150 -- Cavaliers "Frameworks" (2002) & Cadets "The Zone" (2005)

2. 98.525 -- Blue Devils "The SummerTrain Blues Mix" (2004)

3. 97.700 -- Blue Devils "One Hand, One Heart" (1998)

4. 96.850 -- Santa Clara Vanguard "Les Miserables" (2013)

5. 95.650 -- Santa Clara Vanguard "Ballet for Martha" (2009)

6. 95.300 -- Star of Indiana (Henry V, etc.) (1989)

7. 94.050 -- Bluecoats "Criminal" (2007)

8. 91.900 -- Blue Stars "Houdini" (2010)

9. 90.525 -- Boston Crusaders "The Composition of Color" (2004)

10. 89.100 -- Suncoast Sound "Symphonic Dances for the Contemporary Child" (1988)

11. 87.700 -- Glassmen "A New World" (2005)

12. 86.075 -- Spirit of Atlanta "The Spirit of Broadway" (2005)

I wonder if Star's sixth-place score will ever be surpassed? And was it the quality of the show that scored them so high, or the need to reward them above what was then (and would remain for 18 years) the highest-scoring seventh-place show, by the Scouts?

It looks like what may be most due is more than seven corps breaking 92.

[mcjordansc]

I am changing my prediction to nine. I believe all G7, Blue Knights and Blue Stars will hit 90.

[BoyWonder1911]

I think Phantom will hit 90 too, but they will be 10th.

That's right, 10 corps will hit 90 or above.

Here's the kind of scores I'm seeing by Finals night.

Blue Devs 98.5

Cadets 97.6

Bluecoats 97.2

Crown 96.25

SCV 96.1

Cavs 93.8

Blue Knights 93.65

Crusaders 92.8

Blue Stars 91.00

Phantom 90.8

Scouts 89.4

Crossmen 86.3

[N.E. Brigand]

For reference, here is some historical context. The following is for Finals only. Also, the scoring system changed radically between 1983 (1st--94.400, 12th--73.750) and 1984 (1st--98.000, 12th--83.200). For the 30 years starting in 1984, these are the figures:

Ninety-nine

Average number of corps achieving 99: 0.1

Fewest corps achieving 99: 0 (twenty-seven years)

Most corps achieving 99: 1 (2002, 2005, 2009)

--2002: 1. Cavaliers "Frameworks" 99.150

--2005: 1. Cadets "The Zone" 99.150

--2009: 1. Blue Devils "1930" 99.050

Ninety-eight

Average number of corps achieving 98: 0.9

Fewest corps achieving 98: 0 (nine years)

Most corps achieving 98: 2 (1989, 1999, 2004, 2008, 2013)

--1989: 1. Santa Clara Vanguard "Phantom of the Opera" (II) 98.800, 2. Phantom Regiment "From the New World Into a New Age" 98.400

--1999: 1. Blue Devils "Rhythms at the Edge of Time" 98.400, 1. Santa Clara Vanguard "Inventions for a New Millennium" 98.400

--2004: 1. Cavaliers "007" 98.700, 2. Blue Devils "The SummerTrain Blues Mix" 98.525

--2008: 1. Phantom Regiment "Spartacus" (III) 98.125, 2. Blue Devils "Constantly Risking Absurdity" 98.100

--2013: 1. Carolina Crown "E=mc2" 98.300, 2. Blue Devils "The re:Rite of Spring" 98.050

Ninety-seven

Average number of corps achieving 97: 2.2

Fewest corps achieving 97: 1 (four years)

Most corps achieving 97: 3 (1984, 1985, 1989, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2009)

--1984: 1. Cadets "West Side Story" 98.000, 2. Blue Devils (Bacchanalia, etc.) 97.900, 3. Santa Clara Vanguard (Fanfare and Allegro, etc.) 97.400

--1985: 1. Cadets (Jeremiah Symphony, etc.) 98.400, 2. Santa Clara Vanguard (Festive Overture, etc.) 97.200, 3. Blue Devils (Liferaft Earth, etc.) 97.100

--1989: ... 3. Cavaliers "Gloria" 97.200

--1998: 1. Cadets "Stonehenge" 98.400, 2. Santa Clara Vanguard "Aaron Copland the Modernist" 97.900, 3. Blue Devils "One Hand, One Heart" 97.700

--1999: ... 3. Cavaliers "Classical Innovations" 97.000

--2001: 1. Cavaliers "Four Corners" 98.350, 2. Blue Devils "Awayday Blue" 97.600, 2. Cadets "Juxtaperformance" 97.600

--2003: 1. Blue Devils "The Phenomenon of Cool" 98.800, 2. Cavaliers "Spin Cycle" 97.250, 3. Cadets "Our Favorite Things" 97.100

--2008: ... 3. Cavaliers "Samurai" 97.325

--2009: ... 2. Carolina Crown "The Grass is Always Greener" 97.500, 3. Cadets "West Side Story" 97.200

Ninety-six

Average number of corps achieving 96: 3.1

Fewest corps achieving 96: 2 (three years)

Most corps achieving 96: 4 (1988, 1998, 1999, 2008, 2009, 2013)

--1988: 1. Madison Scouts (Concerto for Guitar, etc.) 97.100, 2. Santa Clara Vanguard "Phantom of the Opera" (I) 96.900, 3. Blue Devils (Happy Days Are Here Again, etc.) 96.300, 4. Cadets (Third Symphony) 96.100

--1998: ... 4. Cavaliers "Traditions for a New Era" 96.200

--1999: ... 4. Cadets "The Big Apple" 96.400

--2008: ... 4. Carolina Crown "Finis" 96.800

--2009: ... 4. Cavaliers "The Great Divide" 96.100

--2013: ... 3. Cadets "Side x Side" 96.950, 4. Santa Clara Vanguard "Les Miserables" 96.850

Ninety-five

Average number of corps achieving 95: 3.9

Fewest corps achieving 95: 2 (one year)

Most corps achieving 95: 6 (1989)

--1989: ... 4. Blue Devils (Ya Gotta Try, etc.) 95.900, 5. Cadets "Les Miserables" 95.600, 6. Star of Indiana (Henry V, etc.) 95.300

Ninety-four

Average number of corps achieving 94: 4.7

Fewest corps achieving 94: 3 (two years)

Most corps achieving 94: 7 (2007)

--2007: 1. Blue Devils "Winged Victory" 98.000, 2. Cadets "This I Believe" 97.025, 3. Cavaliers "And So it Goes" 96.350, 4. Phantom Regiment "On Air" 94.850, 5. Santa Clara Vanguard "!" 94.175, 6. Carolina Crown "Triple Crown" 94.150, 7. Bluecoats "Criminal" 94.050

Ninety-three

Average number of corps achieving 93: 5.4

Fewest corps achieving 93: 4 (five years)

Most corps achieving 93: 7 (1989, 2007, 2008)

--1989: ... 7. Madison Scouts (Make His Praise Glorious, etc.) 93.600

--2007: (see above)

--2008: ... 5. Cadets "The Pursuit of Happiness" 94.750, 6. Bluecoats "The Knockout" 93.175, 7. Santa Clara Vanguard "3hree" 93.025

Ninety-two

Average number of corps achieving 92: 6.1

Fewest corps achieving 92: 5 (seven years)

Most corps achieving 92: 7 (1984, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1997, 1999, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011)

--1984: ... 4. Phantom Regiment (Scythian Suite, etc.) 95.600, 5. Madison Scouts (Ballet in Brass, etc.) 94.600, 6. Spirit of Atlanta "Porgy and Bess" 93.100, 7. Suncoast Sound "Vietnam" 92.000

--1988: ... 5. Cavaliers (Firebird) 95.100, 6. Phantom Regiment (Romeo and Juliet) 93.500, 7. Star of Indiana "Porgy and Bess" 92.800

--1989: (see above)

--1991: 1. Star of Indiana "Roman Images" 97.000, 2. Cavaliers "Cavalier Anthems Advent Collection" 96.300, 3. Phantom Regiment "Phantom Voices" 95.400, 4. Santa Clara Vanguard "Miss Saigon" 94.400, 5. Blue Devils "Conversations in Jazz" 93.800, 6. Cadets "The ABCs of Modern American Music" 93.700, 7. Madison Scouts "City of Angels" (I) 92.000

--1997: 1. Blue Devils "As Time Goes By" 98.400, 2. Cadets "Celebration" 97.600, 3. Santa Clara Vanguard "Fog City Sketches" 96.900, 4. Phantom Regiment "The Ring" 94.200, 5. Madison Scouts "The Pirates of Lake Mendota" 93.900, 6. Crossmen "The Colors of Jazz" 93.000, 7. Cavaliers "The Firebird" 92.800

--1999: ... 5. Glassmen "Empire of Gold" 93.700, 6. Madison Scouts "Jesus Christ Superstar" 93.400, 7. Blue Knights "Suite for Jazz and Percussion" 92.500

--2007: (see above)

--2008: (see above)

--2010: 1. Blue Devils "Through a Glass Darkly" 98.900, 2. Cavaliers "Mad World" 97.750, 3. Bluecoats "Metropolis" 96.400, 4. Carolina Crown "A Second Chance" 95.950, 5. Cadets "Toy Souldier" 95.100, 6. Phantom Regiment "Into the Light" 93.150, 7. Santa Clara Vanguard "Bartok" 92.000

--2011: 1. Cadets "Between Angels and Demons" 98.350, 2. Blue Devils "The Beat My Heart Skipped" 97.800, 3. Cavaliers "XtraordinarY" 96.850, 4. Carolina Crown "Rach Star" 95.300, 5. Phantom Regiment "Juliet" 95.050, 6. Santa Clara Vanguard "The Devil's Staircase" 92.200, 7. Bluecoats "Brave New World" 92.050

Ninety-one

Average number of corps achieving 91: 6.7

Fewest corps achieving 91: 5 (two years)

Most corps achieving 91: 8 (1992, 2002, 2004, 2010)

--1992: 1. Cavaliers "Revolution and Triumph" 97.500, 2. Cadets "To Tame the Perilous Skies" 97.000, 3. Star of Indiana "American Variations" 96.700, 4. Blue Devils "Big, Bad and Blue" 95.400, 5. Madison Scouts "City of Angels" (II) 93.700, 6. Crossmen "Songs for the Planet Earth" (I) 92.200, 7. Santa Clara Vanguard "Fiddler on the Roof" 91.800, 8. Phantom Regiment "War and Peace" 91.500

--2002: ... 2. Blue Devils "Jazz" 97.300, 3. Cadets "An American Revival" 96.750, 4. Santa Clara Vanguard "Sound, Shape and Color" 95.650, 5. Boston Crusaders "You Are My Star" 92.400, 5. Phantom Regiment "Heroic Sketches" 92.400, 7. Bluecoats "Urban Dances" 91.500, 8. Glassmen "Odyssey" 91.000

--2004: ... 3. Santa Clara Vanguard "Attraction" 96.825, 4. Cadets "Living With the Past" 95.600, 5. Phantom Regiment "Apasionada 874" 93.575, 6. Bluecoats "Mood Swings" 92.125, 7. Carolina Crown "Bohemia!" 91.225, 8. Madison Scouts "MadiSonic" 91.175

--2010: ... 8. Blue Stars "Houdini" 91.900

Ninety

Average number of corps achieving 90: 7.6

Fewest corps achieving 90: 6 (five years)

Most corps achieving 90: 9 (1992, 2004, 2013)

--1992: ... 9. Blue Knights "Portraits of Aaron Copland" 90.000

--2004: ... 9. Boston Crusaders "The Composition of Color" 90.525

--2013: ... 5. Bluecoats "To Look for America" 93.350, 6. Phantom Regiment "Triumphant Journey" 93.250, 7. Cavaliers "Secret Society" 90.500, 8. Boston Crusaders "Rise" 90.400, 9. Madison Scouts "Corps of Brothers" 90.100

Eighty-nine

Average number of corps achieving 89: 8.1

Fewest corps achieving 89: 6 (two years)

Most corps achieving 89: 10 (1988)

--1988: ... 8. Velvet Knights "Magical Mystery Tour" (II) 90.600, 9. Spirit of Atlanta "Petrouchka" 89.300, 10. Suncoast Sound "Symphonic Dances for the Contemporary Child" 89.100

Eighty-eight

Average number of corps achieving 88: 8.7

Fewest corps achieving 88: 6 (one year)

Most corps achieving 88: 10 (1988, 2005, 2010)

--1988: (see above)

--2005: ... 2. Cavaliers "My Kind of Town" 97.625, 3. Phantom Regiment "Rhapsody" 96.825, 4. Blue Devils "Dance Derby of the Century" 95.250, 5. Bluecoats "Caravan" 94.450, 6. Madison Scouts "The Carmen Project" 92.625, 7. Carolina Crown "Angelus!" 90.725, 8. Santa Clara Vanguard "Russia" 88.650, 9. Boston Crusaders "Ode to Joy" 88.400, 10. Blue Knights "A Midsummer Knight's Dream" 88.225

--2010: ... 9. Boston Crusaders "Thy Kingdom Come" 89.350, 10. Madison Scouts (Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, etc.) 88.950

Eighty-seven

Average number of corps achieving 87: 9.4

Fewest corps achieving 87: 6 (one year)

Most corps achieving 87: 11 (1989, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010)

--1989: ... 8. Bluecoats (Johnny One Note, etc.) 90.300, 9. Suncoast Sound "Florida Suite" (II) 88.000, 10. Freelancers (E.T., etc.) 87.300, 11. Velvet Knights (Yo Mambo, etc.) 87.000

--2004: ... 10. Blue Knights "A Knight's Tale" 87.600, 11. Crossmen "E Pluribus Unum" 87.425

--2005: ... 11. Glassmen "A New World" 87.700

--2008: ... 8. Blue Stars "Le Tour" 90.425, 9. Blue Knights "Knight Reign" 88.250, 10. Boston Crusaders "Neocosmos" 87.275, 11. Glassmen "Kar-ne-val" 87.200

--2010: ... 11. Blue Knights "Europa" 87.100

Eighty-six

Average number of corps achieving 86: 10.0

Fewest corps achieving 86: 7 (two years)

Most corps achieving 86: 12 (1999, 2005)

--1999: 8. Phantom Regiment "Tragedy and Triumph" 91.200, 9. Boston Crusaders "A Collection of Symphonic Dances" 88.600, 10. Crossmen "Changing Perspectives" 87.000, 11. Carolina Crown "Jekyll and Hyde" 86.300, 12. Colts "Voices" 86.000

--2005: ... 12. Spirit of Atlanta "The Spirit of Broadway" 86.075

Shows in bold are the highest-ever score for their position. Due to a historical quirk, the highest-scoring fifth-place show (2009: 5. Santa Clara Vanguard "Ballet for Martha" 95.650) does not appear above. This is because the highest-scoring sixth-place show scored very high indeed.

You may be wondering which years do not appear above. Those are 1986-87, 1990, 1993-96, 2000, 2006, and 2012.

Corrections are most welcome!

So the answer to the thread title question, the number of corps achieving 90, was eight. A pretty normal year in that respect.

However, this year ties for the most corps achieving 91, which is eight.

And this year ties the most corps achieving 88, which is ten.

And this year ties the most corps achieving 87, which is eleven.

And this year ties the most corps achieving 86, which is twelve.

Most notably, three new records were set this evening:

1. 99.650 Blue Devils "Felliniesque" (beats 99.150 of Cavaliers 2002 and Cadets 2005)

5. 95.675 Carolina Crown "Out of this World" (beats 95.650 of Santa Clara Vanguard 2009)

12. 86.225 Crossmen "Alma Gitana: A Gypsy Soul" (beats 86.075 of Spirit of Atlanta 2005)

And to think a penalty almost cost Crossmen a Finals berth yesterday.

[sniper282000]

So the answer to the thread title question, the number of corps achieving 90, was eight. A pretty normal year in that respect.

However, this year ties for the most corps achieving 91, which is eight.

And this year ties the most corps achieving 88, which is ten.

And this year ties the most corps achieving 87, which is eleven.

And this year ties the most corps achieving 86, which is twelve.

Most notably, three new records were set this evening:

1. 99.650 Blue Devils "Felliniesque" (beats 99.150 of Cavaliers 2002 and Cadets 2005)

5. 95.675 Carolina Crown "Out of this World" (beats 95.650 of Santa Clara Vanguard 2009)

12. 86.225 Crossmen "Alma Gitana: A Gypsy Soul" (beats 86.075 of Spirit of Atlanta 2005)

And to think a penalty almost cost Crossmen a Finals berth yesterday.

When we talk about scoring records, is that only scores from finals night? Cause during semis SCV finished 5th in 2009 with a score of 95.90. So since it was semis does the score not count? Not trying to being a smart***, i honestly don't know the answer.

[N.E. Brigand]

There's no right or wrong way. Plenty of people will tell you that you can't compare scores from year to year anyway. (Which means that no corps has ever had a record high score, not even this year's Blue Devils.) But my list above was Finals only. If you or someone else wants to offer a list of high scores across more competitions, by all means do so.