Lancerlady Posted September 5, 2005 Share Posted September 5, 2005 I can only think of a few "suddenly successful" corps and they happened a while back.Spirit of Atlanta - 23rd to 4th in 2 yrs Star - nonexistent to 10th in 1 yr, 1st after 7 yrs Cadets (return) - 16th to 1st in 4 yrs Bridgemen (return) - 26th to 6th in 2 yrs Has anyone done better than these? In the case of Spirit and Star it was a money/sponsorship thing. With Bridgemen and Cadets the attraction was a "fun" thing. I still remember Garfield knocking everyone's socks off (and us out of finals) in 1980. They started with half a corps but the show was so fun they added people all along the tour and kicked butt at the end. Seems either money or fun attracts members. Good to have at least one of the two. But, staff was probably the biggest factor for these corps. Spirit - Jim Ott Star - a who's who of staff guys Cadets - Zingali Bridgemen - Hoffman and Delucia <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Not trying to take away anything from these great feats, but 27th Lancers was in 20th in 1974 and then in 1975 went to 4th place...one year.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancerlady Posted September 5, 2005 Share Posted September 5, 2005 Look at 27th Lancers in 1974 coming in 20th only to rebound and come in 4th just a year later! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Lol, great minds think alike! We're were posting at the same time. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madscout96 Posted September 5, 2005 Share Posted September 5, 2005 (edited) As for the Glassmen, Keep in mind that the 13th place in 96 came after an unprecedented 10 year run in which the corps improved in placement each year:86-31st 87-30th 88-25th 89-23rd 90-18th 91-17th 92-13th 93-11th 94-10th 95-8th And since that 13th place finish in 96 the corps has failed to make finals only once, so I would hardly call it a sudden success! :) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I agree. I would consider 1996 as "not a great year" for the Gmen. One year after Dan Acheson left them as director to work for DCI, and one year before Brian Hickman took over as director and moved them back into the top 12. edit: dumb typo Edited September 5, 2005 by madscout96 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madscout96 Posted September 5, 2005 Share Posted September 5, 2005 (edited) Although it is not absolutely necessary, it is almost a certainty that big jumps upward in placement from year to year are accompanied by additions to the staff of knowledgeable, experienced people who have "Been There and Done That." <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Staff is KEY. The only problem, however, is when said staff members leave. Will the corps be able to sustain the success they had when the superstar instructor was there? Is there a good system in place to ensure that? Will the vacant position attract a new superstar instructor? If the addition of knowledgeable people to the staff who have "been there and done that" is part of the reason for huge improvements in a corps in a short period of time, then it only goes that the SUBTRACTION of superstar instructors is part of the reason for the quick decline of a corps. And speaking of corps that have jumped up quickly, how about the Colts?? 1990 - 23rd 1991 - 22nd 1992 - 20th 1993 - 12th WELCOME TO SATURDAY NIGHT ALREADY!! Just when they were about to celebrate making semis... hehe edit: I accidently clicked submit too soon. Edited September 5, 2005 by madscout96 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMichael1230 Posted September 6, 2005 Share Posted September 6, 2005 (edited) ~G~ I'm sure you meant 6th in '83. To add to that, they were;7th 1984 6th 1985 5th 1986 <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Ugh typos !!! It should have read 13th in 1982 and all the way to fifth in prelims in 1983, winding up sixth...sorry guys! ~G~ Edited September 6, 2005 by GMichael1230 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brassop Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 (edited) I can only think of a few "suddenly successful" corps and they happened a while back.Spirit of Atlanta - 23rd to 4th in 2 yrs Star - nonexistent to 10th in 1 yr, 1st after 7 yrs Cadets (return) - 16th to 1st in 4 yrs Bridgemen (return) - 26th to 6th in 2 yrs <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Blue Devils - 26th in '73 to 9th in '74 Edited September 7, 2005 by Brassop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommytimp Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 I wouldn't say the Colts jumped quickly; they were a top 25 corps since 1982. Their program did get more sophisticated eventually, but it certainly wasn't Spirit/Suncoast sudden. I agree with everyone who's said that good staff is key. Without it, Spirit and Star would have been Memphis Blues-not to slag off on MB3, cause they rocked, but Spirit and Star both had MVP staff people early on, like George Zingali, Dennis DeLucia, Pat Scollin, Bob Dubinski, Jim Ott and Tom Float, which bumped them up big time. Spirit also, I think, had geography on their side-the first corps in a long time to tap the wealth of band kids in the deep South who wanted to march at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elphaba01 Posted September 8, 2005 Share Posted September 8, 2005 "Going Back a Bit": "Suddenly Successful": The Santa Clara Vanguard should fit that description. The corps was "assembled" as the "Vanguard" in 1967. By 1970 they had beaten all three reigning National Champions (Racine Kilties VFW, Chicago Cavaliers Legion, and Casper Troopers World Open & CYO) and that year won the National Legion title. In 1971 they were crowned VFW National Champions, and won the second and third DCI Championships in 1973 & 1974. Elphaba WWW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggbert Posted September 9, 2005 Share Posted September 9, 2005 We should probably also consider Blue Stars a sudden success, although their rise came before the DCI era. 1965 - first year as a tiny parade corps 1966 - first year on the field, 18th at VFW 1967 - 10th at VFW 1972 - 2nd at DCI 0 to 10th in two years is pretty good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shannon98 Posted September 9, 2005 Share Posted September 9, 2005 I think you guys are missing some things important to all of your speculations. A lot does have to do with instructors, but the most important factor to me would be the director of any drum corps. The director needs to have that ability to select the right staff members. You mention all of these great corps' that have risen you have to look at the director. Examples Cadets- Hopkins G-men- Brian Hickman Madison-recently Sal Salas SCV- Royer and JW keoster Bluecoats- David glascow Without a good director then you don't have the rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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