mellopwn1

I agree that his statement might be a little harsh on Indiana. If you choose any one metropolitan area in Texas, you get several possible GN finalist bands. I listed the following bands divided by metro area in order of their likelihood and level of ease in making finals. Dallas is obviously the strongest: Marcus/LD Bell, Duncanville, Berkner, Hebron, Coppell, etc. Then perhaps Houston: The Woodlands, SFA, Spring, Brazoswood (The latter two are on the Center Grove level, in my opinion) Then Austin:James Bowie, Cedar Park, and maybe some of the strong 4A bands like Dripping Springs. I am not too familiar with 4A, though. Then San Antonio: Ronald Reagan and CTJ. I think that's it for them, though I wish I could still put Churchill on this list. El Paso would have trouble even getting a band into Semi-Finals. So, if you narrow it down and try to think of it that way, then Indiana and Texas are very comparable in their level of talent. You have to give Indiana a bit of a Handicap when you look at their "best" because of the diminutive size of Indiana in comparison to us. down here.

Don't forget the monkeys!!!!! THE FRIKIN MONKEYS!!!!! That would make me WANT to be an alternate...

It takes them a bit longer just because of the sheer volume of videos, but I would say some time later in the week. Worst case scenario is by next Sunday, I would say. Finals won't be available (for those who didn't buy the DVD) on the fan network until all of this year's videos have shipped, which will be sometime next spring/summer.

Their visual book this year was actually disappointingly easy. They executed it pretty much perfectly, but those kids are capable of SO much more.

You are correct! I found this:

You very well may be correct.... I feel stupid now. haha.

Semi-Finals Performance Order: Adair County Godwin Heights Brentwood Morton Lafayette, LA Ben Davis Western Northmont Ayala Carmel Stephen F. Austin Kennesaw Mountain Walled Lake Central William Mason BREAK Union Lincoln-Way East Kiski Area Cedar Park Center Grove Bourbon County Marian Catholic Centerville Plymouth Canton Lafayette, KY BREAK Broken Arrow Tarpon Springs Avon Lawrence Central L.D. Bell Lake Central Winston Churchill Dobyns-Bennett Lake Park West Bloomfield You are thinking of how finals performance order is determined for a Super Regional. Looking at this schedule, first are Adair and Goodwin Heights. They are Class A bands. Morton and Brentwood = AA. Thats the four bands advancing based on class. All of the "cream of the crop" bands are dead in the middle, or just about. This is the top 11 from each day. Most of the "Next 8" is fairly obvious as to why they are there. However, a band being in the "Next 8" does not neccesarily mean it is not in the top 22. The middle is the top 11 from each day. Since Lafeyette, LA and Winston Churchill performed on Friday with so many finals "locks", they were bumped out of Friday's top 11. However this has no idication of how they stack up against Thursday's bands. Here is a hypothetical situation: Churchill performed on Thursday instead of Friday, and it just so happens they get an 88, the highest score of the day (I made that number up). This would place them at the very top of Thursday's top 11. Now let's say in another world, they still performed on Friday and performed the same exact show and earned the same 88. However, 11 other bands on Friday all scored above an 88. This would mean that Churchill was 12th overall, but would still advance as part of the "next 8" because of where they were scheduled. In retrospect, something like my hypothetical situation could have possibly happened, especially with that massive cluster of talent on Friday. So, based on this, it really is possible that they will make top half of semi's Hope I helped.

As far as I know, its official. If you look at the schedule it makes sense where bands are in relation to the previously mentioned scheduling system. For the most part.

First 4 = Bands who advance based on class (Random order) Second 4 = Half of the "Next 8" (Random order) Next 22 = Top 11 from both days (Random order) Final 4 = Other half of "Next 8" (Random order) This has always been my understanding of semis scheduling.

Sadly, Churchill was part of the "next 8" advancing from prelims. With that knowledge, I find it kind of hard for them to even break top half of semis. I just don't hthink this is their year.

Well, maybe not often. I just remember you specifically causing some ruckus in one of the threads pertaining to some local contest. Maybe Westlake? I don't remember and dont want to look it up.

Dear Lord....haha. I would think they would want them to go in a with a LITTLE more contest experience. I dunno though. They know what they're doing. Seems like an odd move. And MAN OH MAN would I love for them to go in there on Saturday and beat LD BELL!!!!! I wanna say they can do it, but especially with this year's competition it's going to be extremely unlikely.... & what's up with the BOA Conroe thing...? Do they not like The Woodlands or something? haha. odd.

I believe Drummerjoe goes to Round Rock. haha. MrWood has been voicing his complaints about Round Rock for a while now. He just strongly feels that way. He might not be so tactful about it, but oh well. what can you do?

If I recall correctly, SFA also flys. I remember this coming up on the MFA Forums and SFA was singled out for this

It happens You'd never guess where I went to find the recaps for last year, either

Two things: Lawrence Central placed 8th last year, The Woodlands placed 7th. In my opinion, all those bands you compared to Bowie, Cedar Park, CTJ, Keller, etc. are on par score wise (I would tend to say a tad lower) and maybe better visually. However, I think the Texas bands win music every time. For example, last year’s music avg. for GN Finals: 1st – 19.55 - Marcus 3rd -18.80 - The Woodlands 4th- 18.50 - LD Bell 8th- 18.10 -James Bowie Indiana: 2nd – 19.15 - Avon 5th/6th (tie) – 18.40 - Carmel 9th – 17.65 -Lawrence Central 11th - 17.55 - Center Grove Texas Music Avg. Avg. = 18.74 (Interestingly enough, even if you remove Marcus, it averages out to be 18.5, still the highest!) Indiana Music Avg. Avg. = 18.18 Just for comparison’s sake (All of these states only had one band representing them, so it really isn’t indicative of much for them) Oklahoma Music Avg. = 17.6 South Carolina Music Avg. = 18.2 Illinois Music Avg. = 18.40 Ohio Music Avg. = 17.35 I greatly enjoyed your post, I just wanted to point out the musical superiority of Texas Bands.

Dude...I know. It's awesome!!!

I have been wondering the same things. I haven't really been following them, but has SFA done ANY competitions other than BOA Woodlands and UIL Region...? I am wondering how they're doing. It would be a huge surprise if come prelims this week, we all suddenly realize that they never quite achieved the level we thought they would... I am eagerly awaiting their first performance! (Let me clarify that I have every confidence that they will be fine, just putting it out there that they could be having some issues) As for Cedar Park, I REALLY want them to be in finals. They had some great momentum going at the beginning of the season, however they proved to be a tad disappointing at SA. I hope they can clean like crazy!

Can you elaborate?!?!?! I don't understand...

Well, if it is going to happen in 10 years, then I don't really care... So many things could happen between now and then to these bands that I don't think minor rezoning of schools is going to have a major effect.

Does "they" refer to Bowie or Round Rock...?

I disagree with that...

Oh, I wasn't referring to Round Rock at all! There are some instances of what I said in the 5A predictions, however they are much more prevalent in the BOA SA predictions. No disrespect, jsut a comment.

Yes, this has been a topic before, but the last one I remember was way back in...like....2007? Taking into account Marching Band's ever changing nature and the number of newcomers to finals in both UIL and BOA this year, I think this is a timely topic for these forums to discuss. So, that's that. What programs do you think are "on the rise?" and as long as it stays respectful and informative, what programs are in decline?

Haha. I go to the predictions page if I want a good, hearty chuckle. The instances of "spamming" and placing obscure bands as 1st are so funny.....haha.