I'm sorry, but I never said I hope they do not earn a finals spot. I said "I hope they are not guaranteed a spot". That is completely different. I supported my case using examples from other marching shows this year and my own feelings upon hearing their performance live. BOA is an organization riddled with politics. If there is a category titled GE, then it should be assessed accurately across the board. I am an extremely positive person, but I am also a frustrated one as well. Cedar Park's show this year is a musical triumph, no doubt. But I wouldn't call it spectacular, and honestly, their color guard is weak. In the end, though, my frustration is not with the program, it is with the judging. Cedar Park is a wonderful band (I mean, they just won honor band...duh) that is free to make its own artistic choices. But come time of the performance, it deserves to be judged fairly for those choices. I get that there are people that love watching them march so precisely and play great music. There is no question they excel at what they do. But is that what BOA is about? I sat somewhat close to a judge at BOA Conroe, and overheard him talking so heatedly about the specific choice of arm movement during one visual of Hebron's show. My point is that I do not see much creative or visual energy about Cedar Park's show, yet they will still beat a ton of other bands at BOA San Antonio. Yes, I could have said it in my first post a little nicer, but I was not untruthful.
And by the way, there are much more disrespectful things I could have said than "I will shake my head".