UIL 6A 2023 State Marching Band Contest (Oct. 30. & 31)

[wyattstamm]

10 hours ago, lost said:

Rough run.

I had multiple people tell me that is wasn't a bad run, so idk. 

[BravoBand]

1 hour ago, ChristopherRoden said:

I agree that the early morning judging was significantly more critical 

The numbers do back that up, although the quality of bands is never evenly distributed.

	Avg	# of Finalists
Block 1	26	1
Block 2	29	1
Block 3	20	4
Block 4	16	5
Block 5	17	3

 

 

[Hack]

Pearland has 35% freshmen building a strong future! So proud of them. I am learning so much from this forum, thank you all

[Displayed name]

People were talking about how imbalanced the blocks were before the contest, I don’t think it impacted judging as much as y’all think it did

[JMR2022]

2 hours ago, Miyazuu said:

It was mentioned by a waxahachie parent/member that UIL supposedly allows for a margin of error within 2-3 seconds. Supposedly, waxahachie was just under those two seconds, allowing for them to remain in the competition. If that's true, it's probably an unspoken clause that UIL doesn't mention to avoid abuse or it's a case by case basis dependent on how the higher ups are feeling that day. I'm not sure where you're idea of "adding CTJ to finals as 15th place" is coming from. Adding a finalist spot and keeping a band who went 2 seconds over are very different magnitudes. Waxahachie performed well, many saw them as a finalist lock.

Respectfully, and or course my own opinion, CTJ not making finals isn't very shocking. Their show and their performance is good but this entire season it felt like a strong performance from another band could knock them over, and that's what seemed to happen. Plus, UIL doesn't seem to favor their show style, we can see this from previous year results. They cut a minute or so away to preshow because the show is made for a BOA circuit. 

The rule does not state that there is a "few additional seconds" allowed. the committee ruling yesterday, was that they were concerned that it was an error of the time keeper running the clock even though they had the video with a time stamp on it. My comment of adding CTJ to finals was that UIL drug their feet on this all day and once they announced that Waxahachie had advanced it would not be fair to take it away from them. But it is also not fair to CTJ that would have advanced.  As for the comment that UIL does not favor their type of show - correct - CTJ is going to Grand Nats this year and generally they always do a BOA type show, that has been their style and they have always done the pre-show and started prior to the school being announced. But after opening in 2008, they have  advanced to State every year since 2010 and finals every year since 2012. during that span they have also picked up a UIL Bronze Medal in 2014 and a Gold Medal in 2020. At the end of the day, it comes down to a rule that has been used many times in the past to exclude programs including Roma in 2019. If you have the rule then enforce the rule - if not, then change the rule or do away with it - 42 other programs followed it during yesterdays competition. 

[Coolhornplayer]

These are the average scores from the top 15 bands. Marcus and Hebron are so close together right now

 

vandegrift 963.7142857

Marcus 960.7142857

Hebron 960.4285714

Flowermound  957

woodlands 952.2857143

Reagan 948.8571429

vista ridge 947.5714286

Coppell 937.2857143

Round Rock 929.7142857

Pearland 928.7142857

Keller 920.7142857

Bridgeland 917.1428571

Cy-Fair 913.5714286

Waxahachie 911.1428571

CTJ 901.1428571

 

[AWF2014]

10 hours ago, tubapop said:

Bridgeland parent here. Today was a relatively bad run for us. I'm hoping for improvement tomorrow and at the same time am humbled that we made it in when the field is so crowded with superstars.

Cy Woods parent here. Congratulations to both Bridgeland and CY Fair! I’m so happy to see CY Fair isd in finals!!! Best of luck today!

[Dallas Hobbs]

2 hours ago, Dallas Hobbs said:

Area B (3)- Coppell, Keller, Waxahachie 

Area C (3)- Marcus, Hebron, Flower Mound 

Area D (2)- Ronald Reagan, Round Rock

Area E (1)- Pearland

Area F (1)- The Woodlands

Area H (2)- Vandegrift, Vista Ridge

Area I (2)- Bridgeland, Cy-Fair

And If I have this right (correct me if I’m not) this is the finalists breakdown by major city:

DFW- 6

Houston- 4

Austin- 3

San Antonio- 1

[BandFan95]

4 minutes ago, JMR2022 said:

The rule does not state that there is a "few additional seconds" allowed. the committee ruling yesterday, was that they were concerned that it was an error of the time keeper running the clock even though they had the video with a time stamp on it. My comment of adding CTJ to finals was that UIL drug their feet on this all day and once they announced that Waxahachie had advanced it would not be fair to take it away from them. But it is also not fair to CTJ that would have advanced.  As for the comment that UIL does not favor their type of show - correct - CTJ is going to Grand Nats this year and generally they always do a BOA type show, that has been their style and they have always done the pre-show and started prior to the school being announced. But after opening in 2008, they have  advanced to State every year since 2010 and finals every year since 2012. during that span they have also picked up a UIL Bronze Medal in 2014 and a Gold Medal in 2020. At the end of the day, it comes down to a rule that has been used many times in the past to exclude programs including Roma in 2019. If you have the rule then enforce the rule - if not, then change the rule or do away with it - 42 other programs followed it during yesterdays competition. 

Did CTJ challenge this at all?

[crunchycookie3]

Considering how hard UIL was on Lovejoy this year and Wakeland last year, I’m very surprised at the alleged leniency for Waxahachie. As many others have stated above, what is the point of having the rule if you’re going to allow a 2-second grace period? If it had been 5 seconds over, would there have been a 5-second grace period? One can’t help but wonder.

[ChristopherRoden]

16 minutes ago, crunchycookie3 said:

Considering how hard UIL was on Lovejoy this year and Wakeland last year, I’m very surprised at the alleged leniency for Waxahachie. As many others have stated above, what is the point of having the rule if you’re going to allow a 2-second grace period? If it had been 5 seconds over, would there have been a 5-second grace period? One can’t help but wonder.

Furthermore, would this leniency have been extended to a non-finalist bubble band? 

[BandFan95]

12 minutes ago, JMR2022 said:

Yes, but it appears that Dr Kent is just going to ignore it and hope it will go away. that is where their statement came from that they felt it could have been a timekeeper issue - even with a time stamp.

 

And knowing this, you STILL are on the soapbox regarding CTJ getting robbed and Wax getting disqualified?

I'm going to ask all of you all something. How many of you have volunteered to work in the press box to work the clock or work as an announcer? It's all done by parents and volunteers. No one gets paid to do it. Maybe the announcers get to do it at the state level but that's it. Knowing that, the level of pressure to do this correctly for the timekeepers is high. I remember the first year I worked as an announcer for a competition, the timekeepers would start the clock as soon as the band started. We had to correct them on more than one occasion and remind them they get that time regardless. We had to restart the clock for a band at another competition. Why? Because people make mistakes all the time because they are human. 

 

[LostChoirGuy]

It's also worth noting that the examples given of previous infractions going over time all happened prior to coming to state.  The state competition isn't as concerned with it as these bands have all earned their way here already and done so keeping within the time limit.  In finals, they don't even do a timer.

[lost]

Timing leniency has always existed for the state contest.

Having watched state contests since 2015 there are more than 10~ or so bands I can remember “going over” but not being penalized. This applies 1A - 6A.

UIL has always been stricter for region and area, for whatever their reasons may be. 

This is not a special circumstance granted to Waxahachie. It just represents the continued trend of leniency at the state contest. Don’t ask me why it’s like this, that’s just the trends and how it’s been.

[bandfam1234]

CTJ parent here!  Just came on to say that all of the bands did amazing at semi-finals and should be so proud of their accomplishments regardless if they were 1st or 40th. It was an impressive display of talent and creativity and we will be cheering y'all on in the finals. GO TEAM TEXAS!

[JustABandDad]

My question is if Midland or another non-finalist school would have went over would they have had the same leniency granted to them

[JMR2022]

16 minutes ago, BandFan95 said:

And knowing this, you STILL are on the soapbox regarding CTJ getting robbed and Wax getting disqualified?

I'm going to ask all of you all something. How many of you have volunteered to work in the press box to work the clock or work as an announcer? It's all done by parents and volunteers. No one gets paid to do it. Maybe the announcers get to do it at the state level but that's it. Knowing that, the level of pressure to do this correctly for the timekeepers is high. I remember the first year I worked as an announcer for a competition, the timekeepers would start the clock as soon as the band started. We had to correct them on more than one occasion and remind them they get that time regardless. We had to restart the clock for a band at another competition. Why? Because people make mistakes all the time because they are human. 

 

I am not pushing for Wax to get disqualified - once they were announced you cannot pull them back - not fair to the kids - but CTJ should have been added. they all play by the same rules - as noted above, CTJ starts their show prior to their announcement to meet that same rule - everyone adjusts for the UIL 5 minute min - 8 minute max.  I am more than aware that there are a great deal of unpaid volunteers at these events - as I will spend my entire weekend at the dome for BOA-SA as I have done for years. the fact remains that there is a rule that was bent - UIL made accommodations for WAX but not for CTJ. either enforce the rule or do away with it 

[tubapop]

59 minutes ago, AWF2014 said:

Cy Woods parent here. Congratulations to both Bridgeland and CY Fair! I’m so happy to see CY Fair isd in finals!!! Best of luck today!

Thank you for the wonderful note, and best wishes to Cy Woods at BOA! Let's all represent CFISD and Houston!

[washedupalum2017]

how has the livestream been? considering subscribing for finals...

[lost]

22 minutes ago, JustABandDad said:

My question is if Midland or another non-finalist school would have went over would they have had the same leniency granted to them

Yes and it has happened in the past, you just don’t hear about it because those programs are under less scrutiny and this forum doesn’t put their every move under a microscope.

[contrabassclarinet]

4 minutes ago, washedupalum2017 said:

how has the livestream been? considering subscribing for finals...

still not as good as the other providers but a significant step up from last year

[Dallas Hobbs]

2 minutes ago, washedupalum2017 said:

how has the livestream been? considering subscribing for finals...

Definitely better than last year. I feel that the camera panning and zooming is more purposeful, as in the camera points to the important parts at the right time. Feels like the technicians are more experienced 

[lost]

This idea about leniency is silly, considering with UIL’s own rules they kept out a likely 5A finalist in 2019 and then the very likely Area winner with Wakeland last year.

[TxBlueBariXD]

8 minutes ago, washedupalum2017 said:

how has the livestream been? considering subscribing for finals...

It’s been A+. Much better than last year’s.

[TxBlueBariXD]

17 minutes ago, JMR2022 said:

I am not pushing for Wax to get disqualified - once they were announced you cannot pull them back - not fair to the kids - but CTJ should have been added. they all play by the same rules - as noted above, CTJ starts their show prior to their announcement to meet that same rule - everyone adjusts for the UIL 5 minute min - 8 minute max.  I am more than aware that there are a great deal of unpaid volunteers at these events - as I will spend my entire weekend at the dome for BOA-SA as I have done for years. the fact remains that there is a rule that was bent - UIL made accommodations for WAX but not for CTJ. either enforce the rule or do away with it 

From what was stated yesterday; it appears there was no time violation; so how is that unfair to CTJ?