LostChoirGuy

Looks like it is shaping into a great contest! Will there be a prediction contest set up for these other marching contests or just the BOA ones?

I'm preparing a letter right now. In my letter I am including the fact that there shouldnt need to be an alternate solution for a band to play at this one game as college football teams rarely travel with their marching bands. Yes it would be expensive to travel with them, but if it truly made a difference in the performance of the team, you can guarantee those teams would spare no expense in traveling with them. But since they don't, it clearly isnt that important for the performance of the team. Yes, it makes for a more fun environment- but I doubt they would be having much fun knowing they are missing out on their own contest.

Does anyone know if this contest is judged more like BOA or UIL? That would make a big difference in outcome here. Some really great schools competing in this one. I think it could turn out with any one of Pearland, Oak Ridge, Clear Brook, North Shore, SFA, or Dawson on top.

They should also be aware that this isn't just a local issue. Since the competition is streamed on Flo Marching, people from all over the US may have been looking forward to using their paid subscription in order to see TWHS. It completely lowers the value of watching that competition and therefore the streaming service itself.

I, too would write a letter or sign a petition.

They should also know that it is disrespectful to the other bandsin the competition.

I wasnt aware that bands are supposed to be the football team's personal performers. Is the football team planning to stay during halftime to watch the band's show? Are members of the band forced to agree when they join that they will be loyal and supportive to the football team? I think that this is a very toxic message the administrators are sending that this is all the band is good for.

Wow this makes it feel real!

Wow, that is a long way to come for a football game!

Coppell is in the same district as FM, Marcus, and Hebron. LD Bell is no longer in that district, but is in the district with Haltom. Churchill is in the same one with CTJ, Madison, and Reagan.

Wow! What a great district!

I think CTJ wins the award for best 350 member dance team! Haha. Their drill seems difficult but the music isnt that impressive yet. --- In regards to this topic, here are the first choices that come to mind: Keller Central- the more I think about it, the more I remember how much I really like KC. Last year's show was one that I enjoyed watching, but I think was very underrated because it didnt have the general effect factor that BOA shows need. Still, I thought it was a fascinating show design with a more traditional approach and they are good at what they do. KC is obviously very good musically (their concert band advanced to state in area B for honor band this year) so look for them to maybe sneak into one of those last state qualifying spots in area B as their shows seem to do better at UIL. Flower Mound- this time last year everyone was buzzing about FM, but this year no one is talking about them. We can't forget that their show last year was still really good, just not as clean as we saw the previous two years. I expect them to come back very strong this year with a more UIL friendly show that they will be able to get really clean. I'm sure they will have awesome show design again as well. I also think that Coppell, Wylie, Westwood, and Clear Brook will be bands to watch for improvement. With so many great bands at BOA SA this year, there will be some great ones that simply wont make it into finals. I think this actually may make it more possible, believe it or not, for a band like this that is just on the outside to sneak in with a really good run, because the bubble will be huge and the scores will be so close together. Weird things happen. We also dont know how the alternating block judging panels will affect things.

I must admit that while CTJ was definitely brilliant and deserving of their win last year, it still seemed chaotic to me by the end of the season. I like more clean looking shows with a bit less going on.

They can have their own opinion... We already what yours is

Just watched videos of waxahachie and poteet. I was impressed with how developed poteet's show is since the video was from Aug 31. I don't think they will make finals here, especially with their early slot, but they might surprise some of the other bubble bands. I don't think their show or sound has enough growth potential, but right now they look good. Waxahachie has a pretty complex show design between all of the props and a large color guard but their sound isnt really there yet, but this of course is an early video. We will see what happens.

I really like the show as well. I hope there is more coming from those props though. I agree with a previous statement that they seem a bit bulky and unnecessary right now, but they might just not be at their final stage and fully incorporated into the theme of the show.

There is a better video of Leander up now.

Do they have in taberna quando sumus in their show? Last anyone said they werent sure.

I just graduated with a degree in math a few weeks ago. You could say that I like it

Yeah those are tough spots for some finals bubble bands. Keller Central may be able to benefit from being the last of the first block if they are better than everyone else in the block, though.

Where is Rick Reedy High School? I have never heard of it.

No one is doubting that Haltom did really well last year and seems on track to do well again this year. However, the other bands here also have a history of success that can't be discredited because of a single year's results. With thw exception of Bell in 2014, in the past 3 state competitions, Keller, LD Bell and Coppell have all been successful and placed higher than Haltom (if they even made it). Coppell has made finals every state competition since 2010 (and possibly further back but I couldnt find info from a quick search). Duncanville has also been a consistent finalist, though they fell a bit in recent years. Keller has been a top 12 finisher in all of these years and has done better at state than at BOA SA in each year. We know that Haltom is good, but it is not unreasonable for people to be predicting consistent success over that of recent return to success. I still have no idea how I think this will turn out except that I think Bell, Coppell, Haltom, and Keller will be top 4 in some order. Then I would put Duncanville, Richland, and Waxahachie in some order probably fighting for the last spot or two.

Pretty good bands, too. They will be fairly successful here.

I wasnt aware of that about Martin. Since I dont live in Texas I dont get to see very many of these shows. Just what I can find online...

I couldn't really hear Coppell or Leander. (Maybe I had the wrong video) and never found the full video of CP. Found a video of James Martin. Interesting stuff there. There are some good things happening for sure but they definitely have lots of room for improvement. I'm not counting them out of finals contention in Area B. I couldn't tell what it is, but there is some sort of string instrument solo in their show. Viola maybe? Someone who knows better should correct me. Very unusual.