Fwguard17

Just my opinion, but I disagree completely disagree. I think that MFA is doing a great job trying to be fair. Imagine a scenario where there is a completely random draw and all 14 of last years finalists are in a single panel? How would that be air to all of those students? You could argue that the eventual winner should be able to rise above all other competition, but MFA has never focused solely on what is best for the winner. They cast a notoriously big tent that serves as many students as possible to the best of their abilities. I commend them for this consideration.

Clearly goes to or has ties to Haltom, along with at least one other in this thread *eyeroll*

1. Hebron 2. Reagan 3. Leander 4. Vandegrift 5. Flowermound 6. CTJ 7. Vista Ridge 8. The Woodlands 9. Marcus 10. Keller

lmao

For what it’s worth, I’m glad for the kids at CP that they’ll get a performance today. I also think it’s fair that they will be in exhibition. I would feel awful for the first band out if CP took their spot in finals. Well handled by TMC staff! Bravo!

There's a pretty big omission here. Maybe the only school in the country that's already won 2 BOA regionals....

This is a pretty common thought but I do not believe that it is the case. If you look at LD Bell for example, they fell off in a huge way a few years ago, missing finals at competitions left and right just a couple of years after winning BOA San Antonio and medalling at State. They have the most regional wins in history but I don't think that they get any sort of bump because of their name. In addition, to your point specifcally, Stephen F Austin is a band program that has a HUGE reputation (has won the houston regional more than anyone) so if anything, I would think that they would get the reputation bump

Was just checking the schedule and saw that Lake Travis is now competing in this event. Should be a fight between them and Rouse for second, and adds some much needed depth to the contest

Agreed. The kids are the same. The designers are (likely) the same. Amanda Drinkwater is still in the district and I'm sure is pitching in where she can. My bet is that Marcus is somewhere in the 8-10 range in San Antonio

Meh, I never put too much stock into numbers (ESPECIALLY at non-BOA events) because of the "contest dynamics". As a judge, as long as you think one band is better than the other, the difference in scoring is less important. Your job is to put the best band 1st, then 2nd etc. I wouldn't be surprised if the spreads are not as wide as we anticipate because the judges will know that they should put someone in first, but don't want to put them SO FAR in first that another judge couldn't be a deciding factor

I heard friendswood had a couple weird things happen in their run

I’d put them right up with CTJ and Flomo for the SA crown right now. Like it’s 2015 again

Here’s my bold prelims prediction based on what I’ve seen today (live) and at week at Austin (online). Music-Vanegrift Visual-Reagan GE-Reagan 1. Reagan 2. Woodlands 3. Vandegrift 4. Bowie 5. Seven Lakes 6. Churchill 7. Cy-Fair 8. Pearland 9. JET 10. Woodlands College Park Edit: sadly have to leave the show for the night

Same! INCREDIBLY frustrating

Maybe I am naive but I can not imagine a scenario where the title of this show (and American themes) and the DJT quote is coincidental. The odds of that happening are just FAR too slim. I completely understand trying to take a "healing" coming together" angle on this moment in our nation's history. The cynical part of me also thinks this could be some sort of tongue in cheek political statement for the designers or else trying to capitolize on what is a passionate topic for most people in our Country.

They were 3rd in 2016, and yes. They are in the bottom 8.

This is not necessarily true, although I think it's probably a good assumption. Prosper is in the "bottom 8" of semis (aside from additional qualifiers for class representation). According to the BOA adjudication handbook, the top 11 each day, plus the next 8 top scoring groups are considered for the bottom 8. Out of those 30, the groups with the 8 lowest scores will be in the first four and last four performing groups. This means that if the 19 top scoring prelliminary bands were on the same day, than the top 11 from that day would advance along with the next 8 (all from that same day). The top 11 from the other day would also advance. Then the lowest 8 advancing groups from those 30 would be in the bottom 8, in this case, all from the weaker day (but in the top 11 for their day) That means that Churchill and Round Rock could very well have been in the 12-15 placement for Thursday but still in the top 22 for semis.

Anyone know if/what groups warned up inside tonight? I knew there was rain in the area

Interesting. Does anyone know if that has ever come into play?

I would not be surprised if we saw two groups with a score in the single digits. Obviously, it is easy for judges to keep track of their "number management" with 10 groups Vs. 35 What is the 2 and 1 rule?

Don't worry about it. On mobile, darn autocorrect

Typos on two school names (Poteet and Aledo) but I stand by the results

They may have overhyped. Their band director was going crazy pumping them up even into the announcement. You could hear some of the kids REALLY going for it... they also had some solo mic issues so who knows.

Totally new judging panel. My directors always told me that means a whole new show. Anyone's game tonight and based on the weather, I'd say that whoever handles adversity the best gets the gold

Prelims Results (unofficial): 1. Dripping Springs 2. Cedar Park 3. Prosper 4. Waxahachie 5. Wakeland 6. Richland 7. Rouse 8. Poteet 9. Aledo 10. Highland Park 11. Roma 12. Lone Star 13. Forney 14. Southwest 15. Hanks Edit: typo of Aledo and Poteet but I stand by these results from a source who had the prelims ordinals