MrBandDad

Good point. We cannot mess with the sacred football. I quess a regular season football game will always be more important than a school attending a State Marching Band Contest. How about this. Take the top 10 from each area then split the areas in North and South. Have State Semis one weekend then State Finals as they are now. You get one run at the Semis then take the top 15 and they go to San Antonio for Finals. This is the same number of contest we have now with fewer Judges and venues for the events. Think about how many venues and judges it takes for all the regional contests. I think this would get more state caliber bands involved in the Championships in San Antonio.

Then use my system every other year. If you cannot afford to go then we have less than 70 Bands to State.

How about from Area you take the top 10 finalist to State (70 Bands). Have a 2 Day Prelim followed by the Top 15 on the 2nd night. This could be done over a Friday Saturday so the Sunday UIL rule would not be a problem. 3A would be on one weekend and 5A on another or at 2 locations on the same weekend. This way you will get all the best bands into the State Contest. Yes you will have some that may not need to be there but I would rather that than leaving some really good bands out.

You are correct finishing 6th is a great accomplishment in an area that produces the State Champion year after year. Not complaining about that. I was only asking how can a judge say 16th out of 23? The show did not fall apart completely and that is what it appears he thought of the quality of music being played. As others have said this area deserves to send 10 bands to State. To bad the current format does not allow for that. Good luck at State Marcus, Hebron, LD Bell and Haltom. They will represent us all well.

Who is Judge #1? I am biased but Mansfield is 16th best in Music according to this Judge? Even Judge #2 placing them 10th seams a little rough. I tend to aggree with Music Judge #3 - 5th. How does a band that won best music and finished 1st in front of 2 other State bands get 16th from a Judge. Seams this Judge wanted to make sure his top bands did not have any competition. Some would say I am bitter and you are correct. If all judges would have had Mansfield close to 6th then I would be fine with the placings. However that did not happen so looks to me the Judges play games with their placings. Just Saying. It can happen.