drummerjoe

Ehh, tides ebb and flow, and so do band programs. But it takes more than a year to consider a band program out of the running, so I'd wait a few more years before you make that accusation.

I wouldn't be so quick to add schools as locks. There is a LOT of competition this year, and anything could happen. Band programs usually peak and fall, and it seems every program is peaking this year.

A friendly rivalry you say? I don't see how FRIENDSwood could have it any other way! Ah Ah Ah! *knee slap*

Ahh, I guess that explains why the Blue Devils consistently do well.

I've always thought of it as asking "Will the audience like it?" That may be just wildly inaccurate, but it seems to work out that way a lot.

Yep. We only had freshmen faint, the upperclassmen know a bit better

Yea, they're two of the main competitors for the State championship.

Yea, Round Rock sent a girl away on an ambulance due to dehydration, and several others fainted after finals.

Cedar Park is probably saying the same thing about Round Rock, haha

Ehh, I kind of like McNeil. I'd say we have a bigger rivalry with Cedar Park.

After today, I'm considering adding Vandegrift as a lock.

Well I was wrong, Vandy has a very good chance at winning state, and Cedar Park was defeated. Wow, the results were truly surprising, especially some of the 5A bands. I'd say the 4A bands had little change from prelims to finals, but the 5A results were pretty crazy. 1. Reagan received 3 captions, but took third place. 2. Round Rock placed first in prelims and 5th in finals. 3. Westlake beasted it up and took 3rd. I watched their show from the rear, it was a darn good show. It undoubtedly deserved its placement, Westlake performed the heck out of that show.

Also, I went through the list of bands and finally came up with a group that I think is truly in the running for finals. Locks: Johnson Bowie Woodlands Marcus Cedar Park LD Bell Bubble: Anderson Round Rock Reagan Churchill SFA Spring Richland Westlake Pflugerville Hebron Vista Ridge Brazoswood Coppell Vandegrift Leander Haltom I'd be surprised if a band not on these lists made finals, but I could have easily overlooked some bands (especially since I'm fairly new to the BOA field). I'm certainly biased toward central Texas

Johnson is going to Grant Nats? News to me. But against that argument, this isn't the final competition for any Grand Nats attendees. Many of the other schools have this competition as their season ender, and therefore put all of their effort into preparing for this specific competition. While I admit, any band going to Grand Nats is going to be well motivated, I don't see how that would make them any more motivated to perform better at a mid-season competition than a band at their final competition. Despite all of that, I don't doubt Johnson will do well. I haven't seen them yet this season, but if what I've been hearing is correct, then they must be truly a top tier band program. Plus they are relatively new: I heard of them for the first time last year when they smoked most of the competition at Area D Finals. (which was their first area contest, right?) And apparently they are better this year than last year.

Austin Reagan = Lock

HEY DUDE!! OMG OMG OMG GUESS WHAT!!! There is already a thread about this.

CTJ != Lock. CTJ = Unlock. CTJ = in the pool alongside many other high quality bands. EDIT: Nevermind, I'll take your word for it. BUT I haven't seen them this year, so I have no choice but to remain skeptical

Thanks!

It's about as bold as saying Marcus is gonna win BOA San Antonio. It's just a prediction.

I'd say show up at 2:30 for a preview of the 4A state champion.

Agreed. I actually hope they do well this season, despite being part of their competition. It really came as a shock to me when I found out what happened.

Bowie beat LD Bell ! But that's due to Bell losing a good amount of their students, or so I've heard. As for Marcus, they are always unrealistically amazing.

My thoughts exactly. Now the last few spots are gonna be one heck of a fight. Tough competition this year.

Meh, there is already a thread for this...

I've seen Leander during a football game. They have a nice show from a side view at field level At Westlake they placed 9th, so I don't know whether it was a bad show, or if it is a bad year for them. As for Vista Ridge, I haven't seen them. Now those finals "locks" are going to be having a run for their money. Many of those "bubble" bands have a lot to offer, particularly The Woodlands (Bubble? Really?), CTJ, Anderson, Round Rock and Westlake. I'd say that the only true locks are Cedar Park, Bowie, LD Bell and Marcus (and The Woodlands...), the rest of the spots are honestly up for grabs.