CTJBandPops

cool data CTJ placing top 5 the past 8 years should be of note

2019 predictions for BOA SA Finals - in Alpha order CTJ Hebron Leander Round Rock TWHS these are all Gnats bound programs and I have to this think that they will bringing a big show to San Antonio I have heard about the "timing of the peak" but I do not see program missing finals in SA and pulling a medal 2 weeks later in Indy

I believe that the reference to the programs in the Triangle scooping up a quick win - was referring to those that routinely medal/win in other BOA events from DFW/Houston/Austin/SA and come to McAllen for an easier medal - same could be said for the Midland BOA if you compare the level of competition at the other BOA regional events - McAllen and Midland events lack the depth of those other, more established shows - though we can hope it will continue to be more competitive over time In McAllen this year, the point gap between 1st and second place was 3.35 points as week later in Austin - the point gap between 1st and 5th place was 3.70 points that just defines the depth of the Austin and many other Texas Regional events JB Alexander finished 2nd in McAllen and 32nd in SA SR Timber Creek finished 1st in Midland and 17th in SA SR that is not to demean the JBA or TC programs that continues to grow and show great promise. but more so that the DFW, Houston Austin and SA regional events are far more established with a greater depth of established programs

if Coppell has pulled out, it still leaves Hebron TWHS CTJ Leander Round Rock if those earlier confirmations stand - but as we have seen, Coppell was confirmed earlier and now a no go??? still think there may be others that we will not hear about till the schedules come out should still be a great season -

I don't think the programs in the triangle see this as a quick win anymore - seven lakes and J.B. Alexander had impressive shows this past year

Possible - the 4 years that this event has been running saw CTJ win the first and last event with Bowie and Dripping Springs winning in 16 and 17 respectively. to be considered is the value of this event. in the past, it has been a question of who is the biggest hitter to show up - the last few years have seen some great programs from Houston and the Valley that could change that. with Houston 350 miles out and SA and Austin 250+ out, it becomes a charter bus trip and likely overnight trip due to the distance and start times. this one will depend what programs are already spending there money to go to G Nats or others locations in the season will be interesting to see what the schedules look like when they are released and we can start making predictions

I have been once as a parent, once as a fan and plan to return in 2019 as a parent again - but for my wife and I even as a parent, we are spectators. we do not chaperone for this one and plan our own trip so we can see all of the shows

Congrats to TWHS - I knew about the 7 years for the shield - I was not aware that it could not be presented again under the same director. Great program - looking forward to seeing TWHS in 2019 in SA and Indy

or additional changes to the format to the Super Regional? last year they used the block 1 and block 2 - maybe they are going to change that format. or finally add semis in San Antonio. though a SR in Orlando would be pretty awesome as well - and I agree, it could be a huge draw. - but hurricane season runs to November - that could be a huge investment in travel for Texas Bands that could be cancelled a week before due to a storm

Texas has never had more than 6 attend - and never more than 4 making finals - maybe 2019 will be different

that puts us at 5 Texas 6A programs in Indy - hope we see some more and that Team Texas dominates the finals and the Eagle flies back to Texas

I have been trolling band web pages and facebook - if this is true - it would appear the first 4 semi- confirmed bands for Grand Nats in 2019 Hebron Coppell TWHS CT Johnson it could be a great year in Indy - #teamtexas - let us know if there re others confirmed to attend

My freshman and sophomore years of High School, we had the same music for the fall marching season, but we changed the entire drill every week. the fall season ran from mid September to Thanksgiving - ending with the All Western Band Review in Long Beach on Thanksgiving weekend - it was the Grand Nats of parade competitions with no field show - and if you were lucky, a performance on Main Street USA in Disneyland. - In the spring marching season - we generally had 1 show used and polished but different from the - season was only 5 or 6 weeks long. by my Jr year year we went to a single show that was polished or adjusted each week. - this was the early 80's in Northern California - Yep - the "good old days"

for both Macy's and the Rose parade - the directors will go the prior year to see what to expect and how the logistics work -

2019 - not today

Welcome to Texas - all programs (to my knowledge) are in this format - and that is mostly because you cannot put 300 kids in the same 5o minute block and expect results

i think that there are some politics to a degree, though some of the judges each year have Texas roots, by in large I think that there are some points to be made that a program that shows consistency and repeats regularly - it is hard to say if that plays anything into it or is it just due to the cost and infrequent trips that you have to line up the years you attend with a show that is well received. i am sure every director feels good about their show going into the year but does not know how well it will be received until you see your competition and the judges get a chance to score the show. I noted in an earlier post, that the last 2 Texas bands to bring home the Eagle were regular attendees TWHS attended 5 times in an 8 year span winning in 2013, LD Bell went 7 times in 8 years and took medals in 6 straight including gold in 2007 hard to say if it is politics, or just good timing

i agree that there would need to be some type of process that would ensure that it is not just the same bands that have been there all week, and ensure that there are spots committed for a period of time for out of state bands to have spots and that those spots are in the Friday prelims VS Thursday I think it is all possible with some additional planning

this is a forum to discuss the opinions of many - opinions are a lot like.....Feet, while everyone has them, some times they may stink - it does not mean they are wrong. I enjoy reading everyone's opinion - even though I think they all stink if they do not match up with mine - keep posting - discussion is always good

you are correct - UIL has certain rules (as I understand it) that must be upheld for all schools - example - while UIL does not recognize winter guard (TCGC or WGI) as a sport the UIL rule of traveling/competing in a school event requires students to maintain all UIL rules - grades, practice hours, etc... UIL is the law of the land in Texas

I have been to Indy for G Nats and agree that it is a much nicer set up with the convention center attached. San Antonio jumped from 64 bands in 2017 to 84 bands this year and I think that most would agree that it went well. their are always challenges with that much growth. there are other options - while the convention center is not attached - it is directly across the freeway - as well as 5 major hotels attached or on the block of the convention center. with an effort from MFA, they could utilize the convention for warm ups and then shuttle the kids over to the dome. the convention center has been expanded on the past 3 years. in addition to the 5 major hotels around the center - there is a HUGE concentration of hotels close to the dome. San Antonio is the 7th largest city in the US, it is a top 10 tourist destination in the US and top 20 in the world - with more than 31 Million visitors per year - 6 Million for business and 25 Million for pleasure - would it be as ideal as Lucus Oil? No - could it be better than it is - Yes. but at the end of the day, I think students would rather get a chance to compete in Grand Nats - regardless of the location. I know of 3 programs in Texas, that are discussing G Nats for next year. the deciding factor is this - what are they willing to pay. a program in Texas going to G Nats is looking at a cost of $1500+ per student - in addition to their normal marching season costs. it is a shame that their are many top notch programs in Texas that go every 4 plus years and have students that will march for 4 years and never have that chance. if it was done in the dome on state years - we could see many bands that do BOA SR - then UIL state - then GNats all in the same week - many programs are already in San Antonio for 2 of the 3 events. just my thoughts...

as for the CTJ skipping UIL - the rumor was just that - they did not skip UIL but rather withdrew themselves from the Area competition in 2016 due to the changes at the UIL state level that extended the days of state while they were already scheduled to go to Indy for G Nats. I am far from an expert, but it is my understanding that there are more considerations than just the band withdrawing from UIL. in Texas, UIL governs all competitive events - all sports, fine arts including art etc. just as there are 8 hour rules that challenge Texas, I know in CA, any use a year round school model that also impacts their ability to compete and many, many years ago when I was in high school, they also had 2 marching seasons with a fall and a spring season. - as also noted in this post, the CA school and their band reviews generally have a parade competition in the morning, a jazz or ensemble competition at mid day and the field show competition at night -rather than BOA prelims and finals on the field. It is my understanding that Texas is the only state with the 8 hour rule though many states have their own versions of UIL as a governing body

good luck - keep moving forward - congrats on your progress

I am usually in for a good argument - but even I am going to sit this one out - have a great day

the #TeamTexas shirt in 2016 was designed by CTJ - hope is is done again in 2019