bandman

1 Phantom Regiment
2 The Cavaliers
3 The Cadets
4 Bluecoats
5 Blue Devils
6 Carolina Crown
7 Boston Crusaders
8 Santa Clara Vanguard
9 Blue Knights
10 Glassmen
11 Madison Scouts
12 Spirit from JSU
13* Crossmen
14* Colts

*13th and 14th don't make finals, but they will be close!

This shows a lot of shifting in the final 13 days. The top 5 are correct, I just wonder about the final order! I made my picks based upon how much I feel can be cleaned in the shows in the last 13 days. Some of the shows are just so difficult that I think they will have a hard time raising their scores, where others still have a little room left to clean before it gets down to the nitty gritty.

The way I see it IMHO, the shows this season are so hard that a score of 97 can win the whole thing. When was the last time a winner scored below 97?

2005 The Cadets Foxboro 99.150
2004 The Cavaliers Denver 98.700
2003 Blue Devils Orlando 98.80
2002 The Cavaliers Madison 99.15
2001 The Cavaliers Buffalo 98.35
2000 The Cavaliers College Park 97.65
2000 The Cadets College Park 97.65
1999 Santa Clara Vanguard Madison 98.40
1999 Blue Devils Madison 98.40
1998 The Cadets Orlando 98.40
1997 Blue Devils Orlando 98.40
1996 Blue Devils Orlando 97.40
1996 Phantom Regiment Orlando 97.40
1995 The Cavaliers Buffalo 98.30
1994 Blue Devils Boston 98.40
1993 The Cadets Jackson 97.40
1992 The Cavaliers Madison 97.50
1991 Star of Indiana Dallas 97.00
1990 Cadets of Bergen County Buffalo 97.70
1989 Santa Clara Vanguard Kansas City 98.80
1988 Madison Scouts Kansas City 97.10
1987 Garfield Cadets Madison 97.90
1986 Blue Devils Madison 98.40
1985 Garfield Cadets Madison 98.40
1984 Garfield Cadets Atlanta 98.00
1983 Garfield Cadets Miami 94.40

trumpet blower88

I agree for the most part, but I'd say the Blue Devils take 4, and Bluecoats go to 5. And SCV will take 6th

John P

Why does everyone seem to think that the Blue Devils are gonna level off that much? Call me crazy, but you just don't go from an undefeated first month to taking fifth at finals. They might not win, but they'll definitely be in the running.

tpter1

I haven't seen anyone else but Cavies (on a youtube video at that!). My money is on them. I've been a long time lover of Cadets, Santa Clara and Phantom, and again, would be ecstatic if Phantom could pull one out, but Cavies are just amazing this year. And, looking at recent scores on DCI's site, I think that's where it's going. Based on those scores, I would put Cadets in top 4 along with Devils and Phantom, but an order I cannot give.

bandman

Look at the moves in the week between Southwest in San Antonio and Southeast in Atlanta.

Phantom moved up 1.85! Cadets moved up 1.85. Bluecoats moved up 1.675. Blue Devils only moved up 1 point, and the Cavaliers moved up only .475.

There is basically 1 point separating the top 3, and less than 3 points separating the top 5. Oh how I wish I could be in Madison! This will be one of the best finals weeks ever!

How's this for putting myself on the line? Here are my predictions for the placement with scores at DCI-Allentown this week;

1-Phantom Regiment = 95.7
2-The Cavaliers = 94.5
3-Bluecoats = 94.075
4-Blue Devils = 94.0
5-The Cadets = 93.85

I love DCI and I have followed the trends, and the politics, for many years. I bet my scores are pretty close next week. The Cadets will have the biggest jump the last week. They have a few specific problems that they are trying to hammer down right now. Those specific improvements will make for a jump into the top 3 at finals.

As for the Blue Devils, I just think the middle of the show is so hard that they can't fix it enough to win at finals. They have an incredible corps, but they also have an incredibly difficult show. The only way to fix some of their problems is to water some things down, and that is not the Blue Devils style. I see the difference between first and fifth being less than two points at finals. Perhaps I'm wrong -- let's wait and see!

samdaman

I'll let you all know what happens at DCI in Allentown. I'll give you what I see and how I see it ok. I'm not totally sure what will happen because it usually comes down to who puts the most work into it on the practice field and who can transfer that onto the preformance field. All I know is that it will be 'balls to the wall' for the corps heading into finals. Awsome stuff!!!

John P

Sam, which night are you going?

samdaman

HEY JOHN!!! I'll be there Friday night. When are you going? Hopefully we can hang out.

John P

Awww! I can't make friday night. I'm only going saturday

samdaman

Aww... that stinks. Oh well. You're going for the Xmen aren't you... I was planning on going both days but I now have to go to this family reunion thing on Saturday so... urg.

Oh well... Enjoy the show. It's gunna be awsome!!!!