The most CONTROVERSIAL second place show ever…

[OldCorpsGuy]

Ive heard some wild rumors about 78 DCI Finals that I’d love to hear more about. 
BUT….the ultimate screw job of all time would be the 1989 DCA finals…..

[Paul Milano]

6 minutes ago, OldCorpsGuy said:

I've heard some wild rumors about 78 DCI Finals that I’d love to hear more about. 
 

I was the manager of Spirit of Atlanta that year.  After prelims, the corps representatives were all in a meeting discussing things about the upcoming Finals.
Since Phantom and Santa Clara had tied in prelims with scores of 91.50, someone asked what would happen if there was a tie on Finals night.
Gale Royer silenced the entire room by shouting out "Sudden tic!"  
Don Pesceone asked him what he meant and Royer said that both corps should perform again and whichever corps got a tic first during their show lost.
The whole room broke out in laughter!

[Slingerland]

4 hours ago, Jurassic Lancer said:

And 1980 would like a word

27th peaked a week early at Allentown. It happens. There was little question in the stands that BD won at Finals.

[OldCorpsGuy]

1 hour ago, Paul Milano said:

I was the manager of Spirit of Atlanta that year.  After prelims, the corps representatives were all in a meeting discussing things about the upcoming Finals.
Since Phantom and Santa Clara had tied in prelims with scores of 91.50, someone asked what would happen if there was a tie on Finals night.
Gale Royer silenced the entire room by shouting out "Sudden tic!"  
Don Pesceone asked him what he meant and Royer said that both corps should perform again and whichever corps got a tic first during their show lost.
The whole room broke out in laughter!

I heard that Gail Royer was seen coming out of the judges box after Finals and walked by a couple of directors who were congratulating Phantom on their win and he laughed and said…....”oh you thought you had a chance to win”. Laughed harder and walked off. 

Edited October 7, 2025 by OldCorpsGuy

[Jurassic Lancer]

1 hour ago, Slingerland said:

27th peaked a week early at Allentown. It happens. There was little question in the stands that BD won at Finals.

Allow me to disagree

[IllianaLancerContra]

1 hour ago, OldCorpsGuy said:

Ive heard some wild rumors about 78 DCI Finals that I’d love to hear more about. 
BUT….the ultimate screw job of all time would be the 1989 DCA finals…..

Especially since the champions made finals with overage members without penalty.  I would have let them compete, but they would go on earlier in the show, maybe even first.  

[Tim K]

12 hours ago, Slingerland said:

27th peaked a week early at Allentown. It happens. There was little question in the stands that BD won at Finals.

I'm in the 27th should have won camp, but I did not attend Allentown or finals. I did see both at CYO Nationals just prior to Allentown. I do know folks who were at CYO Nationals, Allentown, and Birmingham and some of them claim CYO was Blue Devils best show, Allentown 27th's, but the crowd favorite at finals and the one that everyone thought might take home the honors was Bridgemen. Where the scores were so close, that would not have been a farfetched conclusion.

[IllianaLancerContra]

34 minutes ago, Tim K said:

I'm in the 27th should have won camp, but I did not attend Allentown or finals. I did see both at CYO Nationals just prior to Allentown. I do know folks who were at CYO Nationals, Allentown, and Birmingham and some of them claim CYO was Blue Devils best show, Allentown 27th's, but the crowd favorite at finals and the one that everyone thought might take home the honors was Bridgemen. Where the scores were so close, that would not have been a farfetched conclusion.

And if Jim Ott hadn’t died, SoA could’ve been in contention 

[OldCorpsGuy]

12 hours ago, IllianaLancerContra said:

Especially since the champions made finals with overage members without penalty.  I would have let them compete, but they would go on earlier in the show, maybe even first.  

I’m talking about DCA finals not DCI. Although both had their fair share of controversy. As an 89 Sunriser I’m still bitter about the outcome of DCA in 1989. 

[Tim K]

41 minutes ago, IllianaLancerContra said:

And if Jim Ott hadn’t died, SoA could’ve been in contention 

Where less than a point separated first and fourth, they were in contention, bit I agree that had the summer of 1980 had not taken such a tragic turn, they would have been a contender. After placing 4th in 79, lots of people predicted 1980 might be their year.