Donezo

I think this was probably the right decision. It was a first offense and it really wouldn't be fair to the students to disqualify them over a sound board issue. It's a relatively new rule, but it is a rule nonetheless and I think all directors should be held responsible for keeping up with rule changes. A reprimand should be more than enough to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Clements (Area E), Coppell (Area C) and Richland (Area are all advancing to state.

I kind of hate that only one judge is a Texas high school marching band director. I'm not sure who else they would have asked though now that Dickinson and Connally are 5A and Scott Coulson (Poteet) judged the last three in a row...

From the recap... Prelims: Rowlett 4 3 2 1 1 Coppell 3 2 1 3 3 Duncanville 1 1 3 5 4 Berkner 2 6 4 2 2 Sachse 5 4 7 4 5 Richardson 6 10 9 6 8 Lake Highlands 7 8 5 10 9 North Mesquite 11 7 11 7 6 South Grand Prairie 8 5 8 9 13 Robert E. Lee 9 9 6 11 14 John Horn 12 11 10 8 11 Mesquite 10 12 14 15 7 Garland 13 14 12 17 10 Naaman Forest 14 15 16 12 12 DeSoto 17 13 13 14 15 Lakeview 16 16 15 13 16 North Garland 15 17 17 16 17 Finals: Coppell 1 1 2 1 3 Duncanville 2 2 1 4 1 Berkner 3 3 3 3 2 Rowlett 5 4 6 5 4 Sachse 7 5 4 2 6 Richardson 4 6 5 6 7 Lake Highlands 6 7 7 7 5 Wow. I wonder what caused to judges to turn on Rowlett in finals. From four top three votes in prelims to none in finals. And yay North Mesquite for coming so close!

I'm sorry you feel that way, but I don't think bias has anything to do with it. Akins and Westlake both had a great night. Churchill was a little rough. I imagine it's hard to judge these things when you're performing in one of those shows and watch the other two from behind.

I don't have the recap sheet, but I looked at it last night and it was wild. All three music judges had Akins out of the top 10 but both marching judges had them third. Also, New Braunfels was in a very close 11th. Both marching judges had them in the top 6, but the music judges killed them.

Well if Floyd gave the ok then the meeting will probably be irrelevant. This is just the most recent news I've heard (as of like an hour ago.) Basically, one of the contest workers in the stands text messaged the press box that there was an adult operating Coppell's sound board. Someone in the press box then radio'd down to a contest official on the field to go check it out. Said official ran over to the sound board and gave the press box a play-by-play of what the man was doing to the sound board. As far as I know, it's pretty much been determined that he was not helping a student (and even if he was that still shouldn't be allowed, but apparently Floyd has given Duncanville the ok........) The meeting is to determine what, if any, disciplinary action will be taken.

Actually, there will be an area executive board meeting to determine Coppell's fate. Duncaville's director stepped in to aid the student. Coppell had a band parent running the sound board, which is explicitly against the rules. If they aren't disqualified then they will at least receive a reprimand from UIL.

I convinced some friends to tag along with me to this contest last night. What a show! This is bar none the deepest area in the state. I have to agree with Xenon about Connally. I thought they were absolutely in. That was the best they've ever sounded and their individual marching was as impressive as always. Honestly, I was really worried Churchill wouldn't make it. From where I was sitting, they did not have a good run last night. Really great design but sloppy execution. I don't think I've ever seen or heard that many individual errors in a Churchill show. I'm confident they can turn things around by state, and their drop in placement from prelims to finals indicates to me that it was an off performance. However, that rogue 9th in music reflects where I thought they would come out... As far as the rest of the bands go, Cedar Park and Bowie were in a league of their own. Both bands sound and look phenomenal. I was especially impressed by Bowie's significant improvement in ensemble marching from recent years. And when did their color guard get so good? Best guard of the night (and that's really saying something when Churchill is performing in the same competition.) Westlake and Vista Ridge totally blew me away. So much energy! You could tell those kids were in the zone last night. Akins left me cold at first, but in retrospect they performed really well. I think the narration kind of detracts from the show. They are still stronger visually than musically, but they sounded better than they did two years ago. Reagan is indeed much smaller and has a very different style, but they had a good performance. I think they should be back on track soon. It just sucks that this transitional phase coincides with a state year. Round Rock and Leander were both solid and clean. They just didn't have the same spark that the advancing bands did. I was quite surprised to see Leander finish 10th, but I think performing after Cedar Park hurt them a bit. My very unscientific rankings: 1. Cedar Park 2. Bowie 3. Westlake 4. Connally 5. Vista Ridge 6. Akins 7. Round Rock 8. Leander 9. Churchill 10. Reagan Again, fabulous contest! Even those who didn't advance have much to be proud of. This is truly the best area contest I've ever seen (and trust me I've seen a lot.)

Wow! That's a big shock. Who did make finals?

That's what I heard too. I hope a decision is made fast so Rowlett can plan accordingly......

Wow, so only four bands advance then. Here's what I'm thinking.... Advancing: Brazoswood Clear Brook Spring The Woodlands Finals: Clear Lake College Park Dickinson Klein Pearland Westfield ?

I think that's what the poster meant too and it's a very valid point. L. D. Bell's on field musical performance has improved by leaps and bounds over the past few years, but they really don't have the same kind of balance and tone quality that Marcus does (or Duncanville usually, but I haven't seen them this year.) That probably has a lot to do with the quality of the concert programs at the three schools.

Yes it will be. The fact that only seven bands move on to finals makes this kind of easy to predict. Duncanville, Berkner, Rowlett, Coppell and Sachse are really the ones contending for state slots and Lake Highlands and Richardson will probably be the last two finalists. As always I'll be rooting for the Mesquite ISD schools to upset, but it's not going to happen (though North is starting to get pretty good again.)

You're probably right. I was just at too many marching contests in high school where Allen placed A LOT higher than I thought they were going to (including Area C marching contest where they were an alternate twice in a row.)

Well they are a longshot for a state slot, but I would consider it an upset if Plano East didn't at least make finals. As far as who is advancing, I'm only sure of Marcus, Bell, and Hebron at this point. Richland and Haltom are both looking iffy to me. If things get really, really weird tomorrow I could even see Allen advancing. I bet at least someone will have them in the top 5.

You're forgetting about Plano East who tends to fly under the radar until area time. I see them as a potential spoiler to the presumed five.

Well, considering there are three music judges in the area/state format, Marcus has a pretty big advantage. I'm not sure if it's one Bell can overcome. I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see Marcus win it all again.

I'm really hoping Dickinson will nab a spot. They've been awfully quiet this year, but that's the norm for them. Did anyone see them at region?

I've never really had a problem with all the judging inconsistencies at 5A SMBC. The field has just gotten so deep over the past ten years that there are always at least 20 legitimate finalist contenders. Of course everyone's not going to agree on who was the best; that's why we have five judges. The 2004 and 2006 results are all over the place, but if you look at the rank point totals there was a very clearly defined top 10 both times. At the 2006 contest, the top 10 bands all had at least three top 10 votes. Nobody else had more than one. That's really about as good as you can ask for at a contest with that level of talent.

That indeed did happen. I found it odd that after all that hoopla the seventh place band who actually won the tie breaker came in second to last at SMBC, finishing significantly behind the other five from the area. And again in 2002 the same area sent six instead of five due to the two music/one marching rule. I guess Area C is just a problem child.

Adding to Xenon's list of 6 bands advancing: 2000 Area C Duncanville Coppell Berkner Plano East Lake Highlands Newman Smith 2002 Area E Langham Creek Reagan Cypress Falls Churchill Taylor Seguin

From Region 3 on Wednesday: To 3A Area B: Canton Kaufman Wills Point To 5A Area C: Berkner Garland John Horn Lake Highlands Lakeview Centennial Mesquite Naaman Forest North Garland North Mesquite Richardson Rowlett Sachse

Yay Recaps!! Key: Music Music Percussion Marching Marching GE Guard Prelims: Marcus 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 Poteet 5 2 3 1 3 4 2 Keller 4 4 2 5 2 2 4 Sachse 2 3 4 6 5 3 8 Lake Highlands 3 8 7 7 4 7 5 Wylie 6 7 5 4 6 5 3 McKinney Boyd 10 6 11 3 11 6 14 McKinney 7 11 9 8 9 11 7 Sherman 9 5 6 14 13 8 12 Naaman Forest 8 13 12 11 7 10 10 Garland 11 9 13 13 8 12 9 Mesquite 13 10 8 9 10 14 15 Princeton 12 12 10 10 12 9 6 Lovejoy 16 14 15 12 14 13 11 Commerce 14 15 14 16 16 18 13 Tom Bean 17 16 17 15 15 16 16 Pottsboro 15 18 18 19 19 17 17 Whitewright 19 17 19 18 17 15 19 Mineola 18 19 16 17 18 19 18 Finals: Marcus 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Poteet 2 2 3 4 2 3 2 Keller 3 4 2 2 3 4 6 Sachse 4 6 4 3 4 2 4 Lake Highlands 6 3 5 5 5 6 5 McKinney Boyd 5 5 9 7 8 7 8 Wylie 8 7 6 6 6 5 3 McKinney 6 8 8 8 7 8 7 Sherman 9 9 7 10 10 9 10 Naaman Forest 10 10 10 9 9 10 9

And then of course there is Duncanville who is always a threat for the win. I'm not sure how much in the medal (or finals) race SFA will be. The state marching contest judges have never been particularly kind to them for whatever reason. I would love for this to be the year for them to break through and state finals, but are they really doing anything differently from the past three state cycles?