From: byork@desire.wright.edu
Newsgroups: rec.arts.marching.drumcorps,alt.drumcorps
Subject: objective as possible
Date: 23 Jan 93 15:09:20 EST
Organization:  Wright State University 

OKAY, OKAY.
    I HAVE BEEN HOLDING BACK on this, but many people have motivated me to do
so with all of the predictions. The traffic regarding this subject has been
very exciting, but I have got to question the reasoning that some people use
to make their predictions. Opinions are in fact just opinions. If people are
picking the top-12/17 based on their personal favorites, then we would never
be able to tell if anyone really knew what was going on. It is my OPINION that
many of the users are alums of corps, that is great! I am an alumnus of two
corps, but due to my experience in corps, it is obvious to me that many people
who have marched have no idea what makes one corps better than the other.
However, educated fans are extremely accurate in their observations. I am 
actually a cross-breed of fan and corps veteran. I was a fan long before I ever
thought that I would be able to march.
    Anyways, I'm going to take the time to "rip on"/"evaluate" the top-12ish
corps.
   1) Cavaliers: I have only known people from Cavaliers. I think that this
corps has been on the right track since 1983. They have been the most
consistant top-3 since 1986. 1993 placement: top-3
   2) Cadets: I went to Cadets' memorial day camp in 1991 to fill a horn line
position. They told me that they had several spots available as long a I had
the money. I went; they had a full horn line. I questioned this and they said
that some people do not know that they are alternates yet. They were going to
give me s.o. else's spot since I had the money to march. Their horn line
sounded like s**t, but their drums were hot. The Cadets have very little
talent, they have beaten their members into the top-6 for more than a decade.
     1993 placement: 7-3
   3) Star: I went to Star Camps for the 1992 season, but I quit after the horn
caption head asked,"how bad do you want to be in Star" after I told him that my
college finals conflict with their first week of the season. They did not in
any way seem to be bent on winning nor did they seem like the spoiled rich kid
corps like everyone says. It only costs $200 to march Star... that includes
camp fees, McD stops on the road , etc. The only items that you have to pay for
are some uniform acces. ( gloves, shoes).
     1993 placement: top-3 ( most likely first if they will play something that
we would like to hear...instead of that Americana stuff).
   4) Blue Devils... the only six time world champion. Their name is ominous in
drum corps. They have consistantly had the best talented horn lines...
consistantly. They may not play together as well as Star, but Star's talent
cannot touch BD's. Admittedly, I am sick of the stuff that they played in 1988, 
1992. Their guard this year reminded me of the crap that Spirit did in 1988.
And, frankly, their drums were lucky to make top-10. They need a tougher
marching progarm if they want to compete for #1, and they need a drum line more
than anything.
     1993 placement: 3-5
   5) Madison Scouts. There you go, no gimmicks... just drum corps. They are 
one of the most well-rounded corps ( solid in all three captions), whether it
be 9th place or 5th place. They do a lot of things internally and externally
the old way. I think that this corps is always underestimated by the drum corps 
community( even in 1988). I marched with Madison my last year (1992). They have
an excellent philosophy... I think that they understand why people march and
why people are fans. They have been rebuilding since 1988, and they feel that
they are now right where they want to be. Believe me, they are not bent on
winning, just being as awesome as possible. That's where it's at.
     1993 placement: 3-5
   6) Crossmen: known politely as the C-men( get it) or the X-men. They have
possibly the best percussion program out there. Their horns are okay. Their 
marching is very, very bad for a top-6 corps. Anyone who wants them to move up,
better write and tell them to get their marching up to par. Their horns may
catch-up and make top-6 with the drums. In 1980, Spirit was top-2(3?) in horns
and percussion, but they had no drill when compared to the other contenders and
they ended up 4th. The Crossmen are nowhere near top-3.
     1993 placement: 5-8
   7) SCV: Well, who wants to say anything bad about this corps. After the
little overaged members thing in 1989, I have not reallt been an SCV fan. I
used to think that they were the definitive drum corps. They had a very
entertaining program this year. It appears to me that they need to work on
their horn line a great deal.
     1993 placement: 3-8
   8) Phantom: Hey, they are in big trouble if they do not get off of the " we
got beat, therefore we got screwed" train. They were great in 1977,'78,'79,'89.
They will most likely be around.
     1993 placement: 5-10
   9) Blue Knights: They are not going to make top-5 for some time if they
continue to bore us with their music and their "bought" arrangement staff. They 
need to develop their own interests and come up with their own arrangers. They
alos have too many people "carrying horns".
     1993 placement: 7-11
   10) Vk: no bands PLEASE.
     1993 placement:11-15
   11) Bluecoats: This corps cannot keep its design staff together. Every year
since 1987, they have made major staff changes. They are still trying to
develop their interests, and when they do... This corps has a lot of
muscle(staff and members), but ti needs to be harnessed. The Glassmen vs.
Bluecoats comparison has got to go. No contest for the Bluecoats.
I marched in the Bluecoats in 1989,1990.
     1993 placement:10-11
   12) Freelancers: Hard to say, but they will be around.
     1993 placement:9-15
   13) Glassmen: They need to learn how to get their horns to attack together.
     1993 placement:12(doubtful)-15

            Byork