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CTJBandPops

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Posts posted by CTJBandPops

  1. Lots of movement last week after the BOA Austin regional and expect the same after today's DFW  (South Lake) Regional

     

    I would say that Hebron win was an upset - everyone expected to see FloMo with a win -Hebron winning Music, Visual and sharing GE with Flomo is a major impact.

     

    FloMo has held the #1 spot (finished 2nd)

    Hebron held #8 spot (finished 1st)

    Marcus held # 12 spot (finished 3rd)

     

    a great deal of movement last week as we saw 8 of the top 30 in Austin - smaller number today in DFW but the impact could be huge - especially with FloMo sitting in first

     

    Tuesday will tell what the changes will bring to the rankings and there should be even more with TWHS and Reagan (#5 and #11 respectively) coming up in Conroe

     

    gotta love Marching Band in Texas

     

  2. First week of Texas BOA shook up the rankings on Horn Rank - I expect the next 2 weeks to do some more as Dallas and Houston BOA's play out

     

    Claudia Taylor Johnson was named regional champion at the Austin Regional, beating our predicted champion Vandegrift. Johnson brought a level of energy and intensity that isn't normally seen this early in the season. Not to mention that CTJ has what appears to be their entire show on the field already, which is almost unheard of anywhere in the country and especially in Texas. That performance propelled them all the way to fourth place, and places Johnson directly in the running for a champion title at San Antonio.

     

    Cedar Ridge, Round Rock, and Vandegrift also saw gains in their rankings after exceptional performances in Austin

     

    Vandy - from 13 to 9

    Round Rock from 19 to 13

    ​Cedar Ridge - from outside 30 to 19

  3. I think CTJ has something very special this year, much like in 2014. Their show is just so dynamic (and that's saying something for them given their shows in general). I'd even say they seem more comfortable with their show now than they were with Flashdance in mid-October.

     

    I cannot wait to see how well they do end of season. If there is a show to challenge the hegemony of Avon and the rise of FloMo. I'd say it's this one.

    I agree it could be special and they are comfortable early on in the season - but there are a number of powers out there that are yet to be score in a BOA competition - looking forward to seeing what the next 2 weeks produce in Dallas and Houston - I just bought my VIP tickets for San Antonio - i want a good seat for this one 

  4. I find it interesting to look at the score changes between the first contest and SA. Quick check from last year (using the lowest prelim/finals at the first and highest prelim/finals at SA - oh, and shoutout to HornRank for the data):

     

    Flower Mound: 88.05 to 93.35 - +5.3

    The Woodlands: 78.25 to 92.50 - +14.25

    Leander: 79.05 to 91.55 - +12.5

    Claudia Taylor Johnson: 82.30 to 91.20 - +8.9

    Hebron: 83.20 to 91.65 - +8.45

    Marcus: 84.20 to 92.05 - +7.85

    Vandegrift: 80.05 to 92.45 - +12.4

    Ronald Reagan: 82.50 to 90.90 - +8.4

     

    Some went on to GN and further increased their scores. So I think the question is - do they have enough to add so that the 3 point gap is enough to maintain their relative placement? They certainly might, and it will be interesting to see how things play out (ok, little pun there, sorry...).

    good point - I love stats - if you look at every band that won at one of the Texas regionals by 1.5 points or more since 2013 - they went on to win the San Antonio Super Regional.if you add 2012 (there was no Austin BOA) Marcus won by 1.65 and TWHS won by 2.30 - Marcus won SA and TWHS finished 2nd 

    not that it means anything other than the data is the data - adding Avon to the mix of Texas bands will also have an impact

  5. I would love to have known what the margin would have been had they had an incomplete show like the rest of us.  They would have won, no doubt about that, but I'm curious as to what the actual margin would have been had they only had the same amount of show as the rest of us.  

    having a complete show vs a shorter version is debated as a double edged sword - it could help - could hurt. as clean as it was you could say that not working on the closer would have given them more time to polish the earlier part of the show. I doubt at had that big of an impact - I think Dan's Podcast yesterday was spot on - 

    the scary part is that it appears that program always finishes strong - in 2015 and 2016 they did not win a regional championship (if you discount the inaugural McAllen regional) yet they finished the San Antonio SR in 3rd (2015) and 4th (2016) and I believe you would see the same if you looked at 2012 and 2013 when they had yet to win a regional but always finished in the top 5

    in 2016 Vandy won Austin and finish 7th in SA - Reagan won Conroe and finished SA in 8th. with what they have on the field now and the time that they have to build and polish, this could be a show that could take down Avon and/or Flomo. from what I can see they are doing a slower year - they will not meet up with any of their BOA competition again until San Antonio as it looks like they are going to Midland. So the show that was on the field in Austin could be much different when it gets to the dome. But that is not to say that others will not make the same rise - as we see every year in the dome there are always a few that jump up that no one saw coming and this year will be no different.

  6. After BOA Austin, here are my predictions:

     

    1) Ronald Reagan

    2) Vandegrift

    3) Leander

    4) The Woodlands

    5) Round Rock

    6) Hendrickson

    7) James Bowie

    8) Coppell

    9) Winston Churchill

    10) TWCP

     

    I placed TWHS so low because of the time they lost to Harvey, as well as the fact they are a notorious late-season bloomer. Additionally, I think Reagan will be able to bounce back from last season (and remember they won Conroe last year anyway), and I'm not entirely sure how high up to place Coppell so I put them in 8th. I think the top 9 are pretty much finals locks, and 10th could definitely go to a large amount of bands.

    1. Vandy

    2. Leander

    3. Reagan

    4. TWHS

    5. Round Rock

    6. Hendrickson

    7. Churchill

    8. Coppell

    9. Bowie

    10 TWCP

  7.  

    I watched every band in finals. It was only Leander and CTJ. Vandegrift did not (although you would think they did based on output alone).

     

    I'm not thrilled by it, but I think it's going to be the way it is for band and DCI (five of the top six corps this year, plus Phantom) from now on. 

    and both of those bands were at Grand Nats last November - where almost all used it in the finals - it appears to be a wave of the future

  8. I really hope my local schools (CTJ and Reagan) learn from last year and adapt. If Reagan can do a more difficult show and not rely on soloists as much as last year (more full ensemble), and CTJ can clean more early season, maybe go for a slightly easier show (but still in their crazy style), I think they could both be competing for a medal. This year we don't get a direct contest between the two until SA, since CTJ is attending Midland instead of Conroe.

     

    This event is going to be as stacked as ever and the top 5 will separated by like 1.2 points or something ridiculous.

     

    Remember that everyone knows what Flower Mound did last year and will be trying to do that themselves (in terms of cleanliness and execution), they're not just going to sit back and let Avon and Flomo steamroll everyone. It's true that Flomo knows the formula for that level of execution already, but there's surely and even better formula that someone could stumble upon.

     

    Avon will be trying for the record of most wins, finals appearances, and BOA events attended in one season, like they're trying to become a Cedar Point roller coaster.

    After seeing CTJ last night in Austin, I think they learned the lesson on needing to be cleaner. I heard that the kids stepped up big by working their music over their summer and that allowed them to concentrate on the drill in camp - that allowed them to have their entire show on the field in Austin. I would have to say they just worked harder - not toned down the drill or music.

    I have only seen parts of the Reagan show but look forward to seeing it and TWHS in Conroe. I expect that they too will learn and tone down the soloist

    if what I saw in Austin is any indication of the level of performance hitting the field this year from Texas bands, we could see a good deal of very good bands not making finals in San Antonio

    I know it is said every year - but the competition will be insane and I will wait to see how BOA in Dallas and Houston play out before making any predictions

  9. WOW - 8 years of following BOA and never would have guessed that I would have seen such a dominant performance - LOTS of great shows in Austin and I had the top 5 sitting pretty close after prelims - but the finals performance by CTJ was amazing (as were many others) - I saw a lot of talk here about CTJ having a full show on the field this early in the season and if it would help or hurt. I would definitely say it was an advantage. the music and movements where clean though the guard was not up to the standard they have been know for - but this early with a 3 point win, this could be a great show by San Antonio. 

     

    I don't see that CTJ is doing DFW or Conroe this year, so other than a trip to Midland BOA, I don't see them with any competition until San Antonio. - lots of time to polish and improve that show

     

    stuck around for the encore performance - was worth seeing again.

     

    With some big bands going to GNats this year that will plan for big shows and Avon going to San Antonio - the Alamo dome is going to be something else this year

  10. Well not really die, but more or less, what do we do when our band kid graduates and we have all of this stored up band parent energy and enthusiasm with nowhere to express it??!! Obviously I can still go to games and competitions, and I WILL, but it's never going to be the same. We'll just be those weird former band parents that never move on. But I'm ok with that, I reckon. Because band. And because Texas. ;-) Who's with me??!!

     

    #nevergraduatingfrombandparenthood

    I am with you - When my oldest joined band we were "all in" - oldest graduated in 2015 and we remain very active and have traveled to all their BOA competitions, we fund raise for them and we now have our youngest in Middle school band so we have a few more years awaiting us. the school is a block from the house so we routinely drop by to see practices and will be heading out for Austin shortly to cheer for our band. We have a number of Alumni parents and kids that travel with us - it is not the same when your child is not competing but always a joy to see our "adoptive" kids and see the growth of the program. Planning a on BOA trips this year

  11. Heads up to anyone coming to BOA Austin this Saturday--it is swelteringly hot here with no signs of it letting up anytime soon. 95 degrees is the high every day this week, and after my 2 mile afternoon walk today, it was just nearly unbearable. Wear cool clothes and a hat, and don't forget the sunscreen!!

    so a BOA Austin that we wont get wet?

  12. I agree with what you've got here. Historically all of these bands have performed really well at BOA Austin. Every year it gets a little more competitive. I do think Cedar Ridge has the potential to edge out Westlake, or even Churchill if they have a really good prelims performance. They're starting to look up.

     

    I'm also feeling CTJ this year. I think they'll beat out Vandegrift this year. Vandy's show is interesting, but I just love CTJ's.

     

    However, I'm not so sure about the Hendrickson ranking. They definitely belong in finals as they're quite good, but not as high as you placed them.

     

    But like you said, what fun is predictions if they're not a little bold :)

    I agree with your comment on CTJ - saw the show this past week and the sound and show were amazing - whole lotta Tuba's

  13. should be an interesting year. with so many Texas bands going to GN this year (in addition to it being a 6A state year) I think a number of those Indy bound bands are taking their time in developing their shows with hopes of peaking in November for the 2 week gauntlet of BOA SA, UIL State and GN 

    ,

    should be another great year - some amazing shows this weekend and a number of these shows were extremely difficult from both a music and marching perspective - looking forward to Conroe next week

  14. the top 3 in my opinion are the past 3 years winners

     

    in no particular order

    • CTJ
    • Reagan
    • The Woodlands

     

    miss the old days when we had some of the Dallas big -hitters at this event like Marcus, FM, LD Bell and now Hebron - not to mention the Austin players like Bowie, RR, and now Leander 

     

    would like to see the big players compete in all the BOA competitions in Austin, Houston, Dallas and then duke it our in San Antonio for the Super Regionals

     

    Just a thought

  15. I believe that Bowie will sweep this event - just as CTJ did last year when this BOA was launched in South Texas.

     

    I think it is great to get some of the BOA big names to attend and promote the event and continue to build those programs and drive them to do more - in time we can hope that some of those programs will then compete in Austin, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio BOA Events and show bring new energy to the program.there is a great deal of talent in those programs

     

    I am surprised that Bowie is attending this but not attending the BOA in Austin the following week

  16. Cedar Park H.S., TX
    Claudia Taylor Johnson H.S., TX
    James Bowie H.S.. TX

    Leander H.S., TX
    Ronald Reagan H.S., TX

    Whitesboro H.S., TX

     

    Listed in Alpha order per the BOA Site - 6 Texas bands in Indy this year

     

    this is from the BOA Site - I cannot speak to Whitesboro, as I have never seen them perform - but I do know that the other 5 Texas bands are all VERY strong in the Texas DQ BOA - all from Austin/SA Area and will all likely make finals.in Indy.

     

    the top 5 listed,  have placed in BOA regional, super regional and UIL state finals in recent years and I know that 4 of the 5 have placed in Grand Nats finals in previous trips. Many of these bands will run the gauntlet this year of the BOA Super regional in SA, followed by the UIL 6A, and then the Indy Grand Nats in an 8 day span - a challenge that Avon, Carmel and Marion Catholic will all do from their homes. 

     

    I feel that the State of Texas will be well represented in Indy in November and think there is a great chance the Eagle will return to the lone star state

     

    Be sure to cheer and support your TXBands in this season

     

  17. I would agree with your take on the top 3 - I think any of these 3 can take the top spot but based on what I have seen of the early shows of the top 3 I would lean towards CTJ - the show has music and a marching dynamic that is beyond belief - the question is can they hit on all cylinders this early in the season. there are a number of schools that chose to do the long haul during a UIL state year - BOA SA, 6A UIL and Grand Nats in a 2 week span

     

    looks like there will be some great representation of Texas in Indy this year

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