Box5Opinion Posted August 4, 2025 Posted August 4, 2025 This year just seems odd for the Blue Devils 2013 BD won 12 shows / 26 show season - took 2nd at finals 2014 BD won 29 shows / 29 show season - took 1st at finals - UNDEAFETED season 2015 BD won 20 shows / 27 show season - took 1st at finals (4th prelims, 2nd semis, 1st finals) 2016 BD won 15 shows / 24 show season - took 2nd at finals 2017 BD won 25 shows / 25 show season - took 1st at finals - UNDEAFETED season 2018 BD won 10 shows / 24 show season - took 2nd at finals 2019 BD won 14 shows / 25 show season - took 1st at finals 2022 BD won 19 shows / 19 show season - took 1st at finals - UNDEAFETED season 2023 BD won 22 shows / 22 show season - took 1st at finals - UNDEAFETED season 2024 BD won 8 shows / 20 show season - took 3rd at finals 2025 BD won 1 show / as of 8/4/25 (11 show season) (technically Canton and finals week remain) Just seems odd to me. 🤔🫣 Quote
KVG_DC Posted August 4, 2025 Posted August 4, 2025 [cringes at every "undeafeted"] But yes it's unusual. The number of shows is one thing given the shorter season and that Western corps have to do a lot more travel days. The finals placement is notable. Yet... a lot of the achievements being touted last season and this still start with "First non-Blue Devils [insert achievement]" so this organization still knows what its doing. 2 Quote
KVG_DC Posted August 4, 2025 Posted August 4, 2025 Also that 4th at prelims in 2015 was due to a penalty. They were second score wise if I recall. 5 Quote
kdaddy Posted August 4, 2025 Posted August 4, 2025 I am disappointed at only 15 shows this season (by Saturday night). I wish this trend across all corps was different. 2 Quote
MikeRapp Posted August 4, 2025 Posted August 4, 2025 (edited) 19 minutes ago, Box5Opinion said: This year just seems odd for the Blue Devils 2013 BD won 12 shows / 26 show season - took 2nd at finals 2014 BD won 29 shows / 29 show season - took 1st at finals - UNDEAFETED season 2015 BD won 20 shows / 27 show season - took 1st at finals (4th prelims, 2nd semis, 1st finals) 2016 BD won 15 shows / 24 show season - took 2nd at finals 2017 BD won 25 shows / 25 show season - took 1st at finals - UNDEAFETED season 2018 BD won 10 shows / 24 show season - took 2nd at finals 2019 BD won 14 shows / 25 show season - took 1st at finals 2022 BD won 19 shows / 19 show season - took 1st at finals - UNDEAFETED season 2023 BD won 22 shows / 22 show season - took 1st at finals - UNDEAFETED season 2024 BD won 8 shows / 20 show season - took 3rd at finals 2025 BD won 1 show / as of 8/4/25 (11 show season) (technically Canton and finals week remain) Just seems odd to me. 🤔🫣 Maybe the dramatically shortened season is a problem. Though not the only problem. That is a #### ton of practice and money to invest in 15 live performances. We should note that pending the likely outcome of this season, potentially three of their five non-gold seasons were won by Bluecoats. Draw whatever conclusion you wish from that, but it seems obvious that is the key difference now. Edited August 4, 2025 by MikeRapp 3 Quote
kdaddy Posted August 4, 2025 Posted August 4, 2025 This has to be the fewest wins in a season for BD since 89? (trying to think of a down-ish year where SCV was also good) Quote
Box5Opinion Posted August 4, 2025 Author Posted August 4, 2025 11 minutes ago, MikeRapp said: Maybe the dramatically shortened season is a problem. Though not the only problem. That is a #### ton of practice and money to invest in 15 live performances. We should note that pending the likely outcome of this season, potentially three of their five non-gold seasons were won by Bluecoats. Draw whatever conclusion you wish from that, but it seems obvious that is the key difference now. Bluecoats won in 2016 and 2024 ONLY! Quote
Popular Post cfirwin3 Posted August 4, 2025 Popular Post Posted August 4, 2025 (edited) This 'conundrum' operates on the unspoken premise that organizations can't be as good or better than the Blue Devils at their best. When you get over that (bad) assumption, and look at the shows that are out there this year... there is no mystery and likewise no actual 'problem' for BD. Drum corps is not a zero sum competitive environment (in spite of how fans often speak about it). The real conundrum is: why hasn't this happened sooner? Edited August 4, 2025 by cfirwin3 10 1 Quote
MikeRapp Posted August 4, 2025 Posted August 4, 2025 13 minutes ago, Box5Opinion said: Bluecoats won in 2016 and 2024 ONLY! Re-read carefully. Quote
Popular Post MikeRapp Posted August 4, 2025 Popular Post Posted August 4, 2025 12 minutes ago, cfirwin3 said: This 'conundrum' operates on the unspoken premise that organizations can't be as good or better than the Blue Devils at their best. When you get over that (bad) assumption, and look at the shows that are out there this year... there is no mystery and likewise no actual 'problem' for BD. Drum corps is not a zero sum competitive environment (in spite of how fans often speak about it). The real conundrum is: why hasn't this happened sooner? I’ve said this for years, but it bears repeating. The maturity and athleticism of people in the DCI eligibility age span is the most disproportionate of any and all age spans. If your membership is older and more experienced than your competitors, you are almost guaranteed to win a medal…at least. I wager to guess that for the first time in 20 years, Bluecoats is at least as, if not more, experienced and older than BD. 11 1 Quote
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