crossblue82

LKendrick, when you say you think Leander is a clear second are you taking into account what you've seen today or the entire field from both days? Just curious.

Full nats performance schedule up on Music For All

HornRank just lost some credibility... why would they have Leander ranked ahead of 3 bands they have them picked to finish behind? So they finished ahead of these bands at a healthy margin in Austin and have been arguably one of the bands that are progressing the most throughout the season (look at the last video) and they come up with that? Sorry that is laughable but I'll eat my crow if I'm wrong.

Leander Area Finals run

Leander Area finals run. My jaw is on the floor. Man, I just hope they can pull off some clean and great sounding run throughs of this. Keep cleaning guys...

Area finals run by Leander is up...my jaw is on the floor. C'mon guys just continue to clean and better that thing and...wow. Just wow.

Yeah, I would guess your omission of Cedar Park is in error. I have a few other problems with your list, I doubt seriously Reagan would finish that 'low'. I also doubt seriously that Vandegrift would win the whole thing. They may have a real shot at taking state or at least a medal but I simply don't see them finishing all the way on top at BOASA. I love them, but I don't think their early lead on Leander will hold up either. I would bet FloMo, Reagan and Leander in some order are your top 3 and medalists. As someone said before though we may have an unprecedented closeness in scoring. I wouldn't be shocked to see 1-10 separated by no more than say, maybe 3 points.

I saw that as well and feel the door is left open. Not to put Avon or even Carmel or Mason aside but a key component could be who finishes higher at BOASA and what the point spread is? Say if Reagan or Leander finishes higher (I say higher because Flower Mound may be too much to beat) combined with Tarpons score, they could be considered a favorite going in. That day will really be telling as we'll see how Super Indy and Super SA stack up and have a clearer picture. Not that those placements are locks for order but I can't imagine a lot of jockeying around...

UIL site has all 8 areas recaps up now...

is that random order or placement order? no shocker that those 4 were the advancers but like prelims, I'd be interested in seeing individual scoring breakdown please...

Can someone post the judges ranks for prelims since it sounds like someone is looking at them? Would love to see, thanks...

And Leander is not even playing the first minute and a half for UIL because of the 8 minute rule. Their progress in the last couple weeks has been eye opening. Be interesting to see if they can challenge to win SA (can Flower Mound get knocked off?). I still say with Leander's product right now with another week of rehearsal can challenge for the Eagle at nationals...

I'm not sure if they are off at the very end with that frantic tempo, but I can tell you if they are ( Leander ) it is because the DM's were pushing the tempo hard because apparently they finished at 7:58 or 7:59 by my clock. Yikes! I heard they almost went over the 8 minute threshhold so I would bet that's what happened in that case. Again, love the changes I've seen. I have not seen Reagan but watching Tarpon I didn't look at that show and say it was a lock for first. Favorites? Probably and almost definitely but they can be beaten in a few weeks... Thanks for sharing the video tater I didn't see it on YouTube any longer either once LKendrick made mention of it.

Leander's UIL region run is up on YouTube. I am very excited after seeing that. Maybe part of me had some minor doubts if they could break into the top 3 at nats (or even have a chance at the Eagle) but after seeing that I am fired up. In my opinion great strides were made in a week. It appears a little cleaner and a lot of the visual stuff I would have liked to have seen added have indeed. It's almost as if every part of the show I saw a need for something visually it was compensated for. Lots of the cube work (or I bet they really should be referred to as tesseracts) has been added, especially in the final big GE sequence. If they can continue to improve upon the challenging at and times, very exposed music, and continue to fine tune and clean visually they will be a force to be reckoned with. Note that on the video they are starting the show at a later point than the very beginning to accomodate to the UIL 8 minute rule. If you are not familiar with the show you may have to supplement with an earlier video to see the beginning sequences of the show leading up to that point. My Leander homerism aside my best guess if nationals happened today would be as follows: 1. Tarpon ( have seen online ) 2. Reagan ( have not seen anything on them) 3. Leander 4-6 Avon, Carmel, Mason (in any order) (they could easily make top 3 and I have them just a HAIR behind right now, but like I said I haven't seen either of these bands on video, let alone a live performance... 7-9 CTJ, Cedar Park, Bowie CTJ is one that could really move up the ladder in my opinion if they clean that show up. I think it is at least within possibility for Leander to have a shot at the crown but I think it will take an amazing run in finals both visually and musically. Whereas Tarpon might could win the thing running at 90%, I think Reagan and Leander have no margin for error if they want to beat Tarpon. So excited, only 3 more weeks... Thoughts?

Leander fielded entire show last night and it is up on YouTube. Just search Leander 10/14 Fourth Dimension. Last minute and a half is pretty cool. Big GE moment. Now a month to clean and improve.

Ok, very early for this and although I haven't seen some of these shows yet I think a few safe assumptions can be made. I will say for GN finals there seems to be 9 locks in my opinion. At this stage I would be shocked, SHOCKED if all of the 5 big dogs from Texas don't make it but I wish Whitesboro all the success in the world. Along with that I think Carmel, Avon, Tarpon Springs and William Mason are locks. So the way I see it now there are 3 remaining spots assuming a huge upset or shake up doesn't take place. Unless you disagree what are everybody's early thoughts on whose these other bands will be? Harrison? Marian Catholic? Blue Springs? I didn't even look to see if Union or Owasso are going? Castle? Franklin? Lawrence Central? Does anybody know how any of these bands are progressing? Even with the absence of Broken Arrow these finals are going to be electric, can't wait! Has Texas ever sent 5 to GN finals? Not even positive we've had four in the same year? Probably have but I'm not sure but I think five would have to be a record...

I'm more interested to see what people think of Leander's chances at nationals? If you want to discuss the others going (CTJ, Bowie, Cedar Park, Reagan, and also Whitesboro) you can as well. Aside from Whitesboro I think the power 5 bands of Texas are all locks for finals. The only one I might hold on at this point would be Bowie because of uncertainties with a new director? Broken Arrow not attending anymore pretty much secures another band a finals spot as well that would not have been there. If Leander can continue the strong momentum and if The Fourth Dimension becomes an incredible show I think they are a dark horse candidate even to win the Eagle. I honestly feel like Leander, Reagan and CTJ will all be top 5-6. I am thinking those 3 with Tarpon and Avon are your 1-5, with Tarpon probably the favorite going into it. I see CP more in the 6-8 range unless they buck their trend of not quite appealing to the BOA scoring format as much as UIL. Carmel probably also in this range. The key to me will be music because I think Leander will be a GE player no doubt. They are very food musically but a great music score could mean the difference between a top 5 finish and a top 3 or even top overall finish. What are everybody's thoughts?

Judge 2 will be all the talk but the crazy part is despite his weird rankings it really didn't seem to change much. His disparity in the top 3 wasn't much even though they were lower. I thought the top 3 had a clear tier above anyone else and he almost single handily but vista ahead of Leander. So at least it didn't seem to displace a band from where they shouldve been in that sense. If he had had CP or Vandy 1 or 2 and then the other as low as 5 or 6 that would've been even harder to swallow for the band getting the lower rank. Despite Leander's issues in finals these numbers stayed pretty consistent with prelims so I think for whatever reason Vandy and CP just surged ahead of them since Area, at least on the UIL scope. I'm for Leander and even I knew we were probably getting bronze although CP and Vandy was extremely close to call, and indeed it was. So yeah judge 2 is questionable but it all played out the way I think it should've anyway so that's good.

Nobody doubts how good any band is, I think most would friendly disagree with you just because they already finished behind the 4 LISD's at area. Not that there is any shame in that, but even if they beat everyone else they'd have to jump two bands they were squarely behind a week ago just to medal. All on the same judging rubric. Yes, I've seen their show.

Does anyone know? Completely random draw for finals or two blocks with 6-10 and 1-5 last? I think it's all 10 random but I wanted clarification.

My guess is all Area D, top 4 of B and Waxahachie. Leander Cedar Park Vandegrift Vista Ridge Dripping Springs Wakeland Frisco Centennial Birdville Aledo Waxahachie I don't know much about any Houston area 5A bands, but I don't feel there are any West Texas or valley threats, at least not to my knowledge. If LISD doesn't sweep it's because Wakeland sneaks into it or Dripping Springs.

Leander is for sure going. No rumor. They have an entire page dedicated to it on their web page and they made the call several months back already. They seem to be really on top of the planning stages and have done this to have a long period of time to raise funds, etc. If next year is on par with Color Study and Choral Works they will be top half of finals caliber and pose a threat to medal and maybe even a dark horse to win the Eagle if it all comes together with the right show next year. I use last year as a gauge, they would've been top 5 at worst, 3rd at best I think. Would've been tough to touch Tarpon Springs and Broken Arrow at 1-2 but noting scoring gap between BA and Avon I'm not so sure they (or CTJ or Bowie last year for that matter) couldn't have gotten 3rd.

I've now heard that Cedar Park is confirmed. Leander and Cedar Park taking the rivalry all the way through Nats next year. Fun stuff.

So who from Texas is going next year besides Leander? I know there's a lot of discussion right now and I'm kind of jumping the gun but I just wanted to know. I don't even mean just Texas bands but what are the frequencies of prominent other bands... Tarpon absent this year so are they every other and back next year? Broken Arrow every year? Any big names from other parts of the country that can't go regular that would have an impact on finals? I also realize some programs haven't made the call on 2016 yet. I heard Vista Ridge has already made the decision as well? Is this accurate?

Oh, absolutely loving that closer from Leander right now. Obviously, looks like more drill to put down yet but the visual and splash of color at the end makes for some great GE moments. Can't wait to see the actual final product. San Antonio is going to be absolutely sick this year...