CTJBandPops

Ric - CTJ Alumni Parent 2011-2015

I might swap Bowie and Churchill as a lock - though I think both will make finals

I would agree - part could be that there was some question about the stadium it would be held in, it is in it's first year, and the season schedule. I am hopeful that this one will grow. there are so many powerful programs a short drive away in DFW and Austin

that same fatigue is why BOA has expanded over the past few years in Texas, adding Austin, McAllen, Midland, and now Waco. While Austin is now stacked with BOA SA finalist (like DFW and Conroe) , the others do not yet do so but I would imagine that will change with time. giving some of those bands the finals opportunities and I think it will continue to drive them to continue to compete in San Antonio - I think the ceiling of 80 bands that they added this year to SA will eventually be moved up and at some point - will include a prelims, semi's and a finals like Gnats just my thoughts (and that with $10 will get you a Latte at Starbucks)

this is the 4th year for this regional and the history has been that the more experienced BOA bands that make the trek walk away with the gold - please understand that there is no insult intended there, the programs in South Texas are new to BOA and we enjoy watching their shows. 2015 - CTJ 2016 - Bowie 2017 - Dripping Springs I would predict - - CTJ - Roma - Pioneer

I think they should medal - I would would say Timber Creek, Coppell and Del Rio (in no order) will take the medals

as we are starting to talk about the 2018-19 marching season - lets remember that we stay connected to this great sport via the TxBands.com site take a few minutes and drop a few bucks to support the site so we can continue to enjoy a great seasan no Texas Bands going to GNats - it is a 6A state year - The shows in Texas will be epic - and start and finish in the lone star state show TxBands some love

CTJ does not have Waco in their schedule

there are a number of schools that are splitting this year and creating new schools in their district - any thoughts on impact? also - what schools are planning to grow their bands? here in SA, there are no new High Schools, but the established programs are going to be bigger in 2018 due to growth - from a BOA impact, I think Churchill, Reagan and CTJ will all be bigger this year. Will be interested to see the impact at Marcus with a new director in a UIL year for a program that has dominated the UIL for many years

I agree it can be done - CTJ won gold at BOA SA in 2014 and a UIL Bronze - my point is that many schools take a very different approach to state VS non-state years. I think we can agree that UIL has gotten a little closer to BOA but there is still a pretty big gap

like you, we have an alumni child - we make these family road trips since we don't have to stick to band schedules. We are planning McAllen, Austin, Dallas or Houston (not sure yet) and Waco. We make it a road trip and stay over at a hotel rather than drive back after the shows. we have gone to the Austin BOA every year since it started -don't think we are going to miss this one Actually planning to get a hotel on the river walk for the weekend of BOA SA and see every band on Friday and Saturday and just uber back and forth Should be another great season

I am looking forward to a great season - there are a lot of programs that I think will jump out this year - Bowie, RR, Leander, Reagan to name a few will be bringing a strong program - what will TWHS look like with no Harvey impact? Hebron, Marcus and FloMo will have a great programs - but the real question is if they will cater to BOA or UIL? and what impact will that have on the BOA scoring at the regionals and at BOA SA? I am confident that CTJ will have another great show as well and they continue to grow in size. I enjoy DCI - but I say - Bring on BOA season - September cant get here quick enough

let's hear it people - what are your thoughts??? what do you know about the upcoming season? who are your favorites and why ? show names? themes? who will try the CTJ project of a full show on the field for the first show? first show is a week earlier this year - McAllen and Midland are the week before Austin this year Come on - let's hear your thoughts

CTJ competed in 2016 at GN but only did prelims for state and withdrew to allow for travel to GN - Reagan competed in State and travel from UIL state to GN

I am aware of a number of shows that new their 2018 show prior to the 2017 GN - I will not announce as I am not sure it has been announced to all yet

I would bet there will be a number of DFW bands that will attend - it is another show in their back yard during a 6A state year when many will not go to GNats

It is not just the music and drill - in some cases it includes flags and/or props from those shows- I have seen our marching or WGI props end up on the field a few years later by another band.

as we have seen with these start up BOA regionals - there are a number of bigger bands that make the trip, not in an attempt to dominate, but in many ways to introduce the BOA style to those local bands - many of those local bands do not compete in BOA - I think this is why we also say the expansion of the field at the San Antonio SR - in the last 3 years we have seen a regional added to McAllen, Midland and now Waco - how many new members will this bring to the San Antonio SR? time will tell

and this year will be an even bigger challenge, There are 6 Texas Regionals in a 3 week span - then nothing until the Alamodome SR in November - could be some big changes in that time frame. I would guess that the design process is happening earlier in the prior year - I would also hazard a guess that the big shows are mapping out their programs 1-2 years in advance - then pull out the show that meets the talent of the group you have to put on the field for that year.

we are officially 8 months away from the start of the BOA - Texas competitions it will be some time before we know exactly who is going to compete where - so what do you know? share for the group if you have any inside info Sept 22nd McAllen - this is a 3 year old event that has had new champions each year Midland - this will be the second year in Midland - who is going? Sept 29th Austin - we have to assume that the Austin and San Antonio big hitters will be thereOct 6th DFW - can we assume that Marcus, FloMo, Hebron, LDBell to name a few Houston - TWHS - of course - but will CTJ, Vandy, Reagan make the trek? Oct 13th Waco - New BOA - who will make that trek? lots of DFW and Austin bands could fit logistically - but who will be there?Anyone aware of Texas Bands going outside of the Lone Star state - St Louis SR who do we know is going to Grand Nats? look forward to the conversation

Just my opinion - but I think that Texas UIL has come a long way in the past few years in recognizing the efforts of the BOA type shows - while there is still a very big difference in scoring, I think there are a number of shows that can do well in both compititions I would see the following as the top 5 for 6A - in no particular order FloMo CTJ Hebron Marcus Vandy but time will tell

try this one https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.youtube.com_watch-3Fv-3D1MdnMTEj4lY-26sns-3Dem&d=DwICAg&c=9fZnZOgPWmHmvevlab4V4DSjtBMjorSlbQYfK_MauDg&r=9b6xVEMO0VE_S0IJBGp6d9Qb-sZ1m-f_4h5zYudlQno&m=2nl3vSDyo6FhZj-rGJhlQCQGfX5Ulb6SQgFK0tu9EKQ&s=_pMR_oRG5nI6vo9omPc6D_alqTgmRMCw7mrU9R3xOjc&e=

So - Based on the Bold - Red statements above - does that mean that making finals for a major program is more difficult in San Antonio than in Grand Nats? I am not asking about bands that are not Medalist/Finalist in other regionals - I would understand their concern on making finals - but more for the bands that are serious contenders (such as AVON) to compete in San Antonio I think the recent change to BOA rules that will allow for up to 80 bands to compete in a Super Regional was designed for the San Antonio Event - lets see what 2018 Super Regional Event reveals

We know it is early - but lets discuss the 2018 season With the expansion of BOA to Waco - what is the impact? BOA Regionals in Texas - big players as we know it - feel free to share if you know who will attend 9/22 - MIDLAND - CTJ owned in 2017 - will they return? 9/22 - MCALLEN - Dripping Springs owned - Who will make the trek to South Texas for a Medal? 9/29 - AUSTIN - CTJ win in 2017 but there are too many big programs here - Vandy, Leander, Bowie, Hendrickson - to name a few 10/6 - DFW - Hebron owned, FM, Marcus, to name a few 10/6 - HOUSTON - Vandy owned - TWHS, CTJ, Reagan to name a few 10/13 - WACO - Wild Card - New Regional - who will show up - it is close to Dallas, Houston and Austin - this could be a BIG show - and the last Texas BOA before San Antonio SR 11/2,3rd - San Antonio Super Regional - CTJ Owned - will be interested to see who will show up - in addition to the big hitters - will we see any new "out of state" players for the "Grand Nats South"

Best general effect: CTJ Best visual: Avon/CTJ Best music: CTJ Best visual concept: Flower Mound Best show idea/concept: Flower Mound Best solo: CTJ Trombone Best feature: CTJ Trombones Best musical selection: Vandegrift Most innovative show: CTJ/Vandegrift Most original concept: Flower Mound Best crowd appeal: CTJ - by far Most underrated: Marcus Most improved: Vandgrift Best colorguard: Hebron Best pit: Vandegrift Best drumline: Hebron Best brass: CTJ Best woodwinds: Vandegrift Best prop: Avon Best uniforms: CTJ Best guard uniforms: Avon Best overall pre-show: Flower Mound Best overall opener: Flower Mound Best overall ballad: CTJ Best overall closer: CTJ