2017 Grand Nationals

[jmartin1056]

  On 11/11/2017 at 10:43 PM, dtexas4444 said:

Finals Schedule

7:45 p.m. - Class Champion Exhibition: Adair County H.S., KY

8:00 p.m. - Dobyns-Bennett H.S., TN

8:15 p.m. - Marian Catholic H.S., IL

8:30 p.m. - Union H.S., OK

8:45 p.m. - Round Rock H.S., TX

9:00 p.m. - Blue Springs H.S., MO

9:15 p.m. - Castle H.S., IN

9:30 p.m. - The Woodlands H.S., TX

9:45 p.m. - Carmel H.S., IN

10:00 p.m. - Broken Arrow H.S., OK

10:15 p.m. - Flower Mound H.S., TX

10:30 p.m. - Marcus H.S., TX

10:45 p.m. - Avon H.S., IN

Three Texas Bands in Top 6!!!

4 (can't forget the beloved Avon)

[TWHSParent]

Going to be a tremendous night. Finals will be so fun! So very glad I was able to make the trip this year. So proud of our kids and the work they put in overcoming the massive adversities this year threw at us and the Houston area. Away we go!

[principalagent]

Here’s my hot take.

 

Texas bands hype their GN trips too much and craft shows that are too hard, too half-baked, and/or too over-developed (yes, simultaneously!) that’s why we’ve been left with disappointing results the past couple of years and probably this year as well. Of course, we aren’t as fortunate as Carmel and Avon (and even BA) to have GN be our normal. There’s no such thing as a Grand Nationals trip for them. But what every Texas band did the years before they go to GN was perfectly fine. Yes, a standard fare visual program in the state won’t cut it and does need to be stepped up, but the GN programming isn’t working on the whole for bands that have shows in other years that would easily medal or take the eagle.

[Jane D'oh]

  On 11/11/2017 at 11:08 PM, principalagent said:

Here’s my hot take.

 

Texas bands hype their GN trips too much and craft shows that are too hard, too half-baked, and/or too over-developed (yes, simultaneously!) that’s why we’ve been left with disappointing results the past couple of years and probably this year as well. Of course, we aren’t as fortunate as Carmel and Avon (and even BA) to have GN be our normal. There’s no such thing as a Grand Nationals trip for them. But what every Texas band did the years before they go to GN was perfectly fine. Yes, a standard fare visual program in the state won’t cut it and does need to be stepped up, but the GN programming isn’t working on the whole for bands that have shows in other years that would easily medal or take the eagle.

 

Texas bands are also at a disadvantage nationally because of our 8-hr/wk practice rule.

[scoobydoo]

Round Rock seemed to be pushing the envelope with their show this year. I'm so happy they made finals at GN.

[Jane D'oh]

  On 11/11/2017 at 10:45 PM, dtexas4444 said:

I think it is more difficult to make finals at SA than it is at Nationals this year.  

 

I think it's a little of both. Round Rock is bringing their A game to Grand Nats and deserve to be in finals IMO. But it's probably much more about how incredible and record-breaking the competition was at San Antonio. Round Rock scored pretty much as high as they ever did at San Antonio prelims, but every single one of the Texas powerhouse bands (plus Avon) was there and pushing the envelope in SA this year. You had to get down to 12th place to drop below 90. So yeah. Round Rock kicked it up a notch after the first time not making finals in SA in 7 years. San Antonio raised the bar.

[zururoua]

With Homestead missing, are there more Texas bands in finals than Indiana bands???

[LeanderMomma]

  On 11/11/2017 at 10:43 PM, dtexas4444 said:

Finals Schedule

7:45 p.m. - Class Champion Exhibition: Adair County H.S., KY

8:00 p.m. - Dobyns-Bennett H.S., TN

8:15 p.m. - Marian Catholic H.S., IL

8:30 p.m. - Union H.S., OK

8:45 p.m. - Round Rock H.S., TX

9:00 p.m. - Blue Springs H.S., MO

9:15 p.m. - Castle H.S., IN

9:30 p.m. - The Woodlands H.S., TX

9:45 p.m. - Carmel H.S., IN

10:00 p.m. - Broken Arrow H.S., OK

10:15 p.m. - Flower Mound H.S., TX

10:30 p.m. - Marcus H.S., TX

10:45 p.m. - Avon H.S., IN

 

Three Texas Bands in Top 6!!!

 

I'm guessing those times are Eastern time zone?  

[Nny14]

  On 11/11/2017 at 11:08 PM, principalagent said:

Here’s my hot take.

 

Texas bands hype their GN trips too much and craft shows that are too hard, too half-baked, and/or too over-developed (yes, simultaneously!) that’s why we’ve been left with disappointing results the past couple of years and probably this year as well. Of course, we aren’t as fortunate as Carmel and Avon (and even BA) to have GN be our normal. There’s no such thing as a Grand Nationals trip for them. But what every Texas band did the years before they go to GN was perfectly fine. Yes, a standard fare visual program in the state won’t cut it and does need to be stepped up, but the GN programming isn’t working on the whole for bands that have shows in other years that would easily medal or take the eagle.

I think you're overthinking it. Ever since the end of the LD Bell/Marcus era there hasn't been a consistently good tx band. There is always a Texas group that rivals BA/Carmel/Avon, but it seems to change every year. Grand Nationals is a big trip that bands have to plan in advance, so they can't attend based on the success they have had that season. Even Flower Mound wasn't able to put out a winning product after doing it twice in a row. This is the biggest reason why most Texas band people want Nationals to be in San Antonio.

[scoobydoo]

  On 11/11/2017 at 10:42 PM, Hard Core Band Fan said:

Well, still 11 available spots in the finals and one permanent reservation for Marion Catholic. They so didn't earn it this time (again). Disappointing.

I agree. I admire that program. I think they'll continue to make finals until Greg Bimm retires.

[dylan123]

  On 11/11/2017 at 10:43 PM, dtexas4444 said:

Finals Schedule

7:45 p.m. - Class Champion Exhibition: Adair County H.S., KY

8:00 p.m. - Dobyns-Bennett H.S., TN

8:15 p.m. - Marian Catholic H.S., IL

8:30 p.m. - Union H.S., OK

8:45 p.m. - Round Rock H.S., TX

9:00 p.m. - Blue Springs H.S., MO

9:15 p.m. - Castle H.S., IN

9:30 p.m. - The Woodlands H.S., TX

9:45 p.m. - Carmel H.S., IN

10:00 p.m. - Broken Arrow H.S., OK

10:15 p.m. - Flower Mound H.S., TX

10:30 p.m. - Marcus H.S., TX

10:45 p.m. - Avon H.S., IN

Three Texas Bands in Top 6!!!

Wow. So the top 6 went..

1. Carmel

2. Broken Arrow

3. Avon

4-6 Woodlands, FM, Marcus

 

that’s pretty cool!! hopefully one of them can jump up to a medal!!

[Jane D'oh]

  On 11/11/2017 at 11:20 PM, zururoua said:

With Homestead missing, are there more Texas bands in finals than Indiana bands???

 

Yup. And we didn't even send our 2017 champions. I assume if CTJ and Hebron had gone, Texas would have six in finals.

[dylan123]

  On 11/11/2017 at 11:24 PM, Nny14 said:

 

I think you're overthinking it. Ever since the end of the LD Bell/Marcus era there hasn't been a consistently good tx band. There is always a Texas group that rivals BA/Carmel/Avon, but it seems to change every year. Grand Nationals is a big trip that bands have to plan in advance, so they can't attend based on the success they have had that season. Even Flower Mound wasn't able to put out a winning product after doing it twice in a row. This is the biggest reason why most Texas band people want Nationals to be in San Antonio.

I think in the coming years that more bands will do what Avon did and come down to San Antonio and it will basically be a second nationals.

[Jane D'oh]

  On 11/11/2017 at 11:30 PM, dylan123 said:

I think in the coming years that more bands will do what Avon did and come down to San Antonio and it will basically be a second nationals.

 

So they've gotta be brave enough to come down here and take on all of Texas at once, like Avon did.

[Majellan]

  On 11/11/2017 at 11:30 PM, dylan123 said:

I think in the coming years that more bands will do what Avon did and come down to San Antonio and it will basically be a second nationals.

 

There will also be the continued effect of more Texas bands expanding out to Atlanta and St Louis regionals in order to medal.  Like LD Bell last year and Haltom City, Cedar Ridge and Westwood.  Amazing those are called super regionals along with San Antonio because clearly SA is in a different league.

[inmysights31]

I did not see Dobyns-Bennett getting into finals over Homestead or O'Fallon! Hats off to them!

[Xenon]

Finals blog is up at: https://www.24liveblog.com/live/30a8aa20c73d11e7a442f23c919295de or http://live.txbands.com

[Xenon]

Be sure to support #TeamTexAvon

 

8:45pm (7:45pm CST) - Round Rock

9:30pm (8:30pm CST) - The Woodlands

10:15pm (9:15pm CST) - Flower Mound
10:30pm (9:30pm CST) - Marcus

10:45pm (9:45pm CST) - Avon

[Hard Core Band Fan]

To Churchill - so sorry you are not in finals! I was in the stadium pulling for you both performances. You guys did well and I'm proud of you! You represented Texas well!

[bandlover1994]

Hopefully somebody will pull some finals surprises...

[dylan123]

  On 11/12/2017 at 12:10 AM, inmysights31 said:

 

I did not see Dobyns-Bennett getting into finals over Homestead or O'Fallon! Hats off to them!

I loved Dobyns-Bennett!! they sound incredible! I had both Homestead and O’Fallon above Marian Catholic though.

[Jane D'oh]

  On 11/11/2017 at 10:42 PM, Hard Core Band Fan said:

Well, still 11 available spots in the finals and one permanent reservation for Marion Catholic. They so didn't earn it this time (again). Disappointing.

 

So what's the deal with Marion Catholic?

[dylan123]

Round Rock killed it!!! They definitely peaked tonight!

[principalagent]

  On 11/12/2017 at 1:24 AM, Jane D'oh said:

So what's the deal with Marion Catholic?

They fully earned their final spot with an extremely complex and well-designed show, and their students achieved a lot on the field and had the run of their lives.

 

Period.

[scoobydoo]

I always feel out of breath after watching Round Rock.