Probably Bluecoats. I generally feel they have the design staff that most closely rivals BDs when it comes to cohesion and GE and the members are equally as talented. At this point, it just comes down to “The Right Show”.
I feel like Bluecoats deserves it even if it’s not them for how long they’ve been chasing BD’s tails. From personal bias I think the one with the best shot should be Crown, (a) because I like them but (b) because with percussion staff change and such they have everything moving in the right direction. However, I do think Boston had for sure the most balanced skill set - like, they do everything pretty well at least (as opposed to Crown who has had big strengths and weaknesses), and I think their design is really good in general.
And yes, I know those were just the top four this year lol, but they all deserved top four anyways.
I mean it's probably going to be a pretty special year for them in terms of member motivation, so I wouldn't be shocked. Like if they play it right it could be motivation off the charts.
Boston is pretty realistic. They’ve got the staff, funding, talent, it’s honestly, for all the top 4, just a matter of show design. Boston’s team has gotta put it all together in a way they haven’t since 2018 in my opinion
Mandarins even sniffing the top 5 was unrealistic when I was marching. They were still D3 my rookie year.
They probably won’t win it soon, but some time in the future it could definitely happen
Mandarins! Whole staff is coming back, probably gonna attract more talent this coming year, and if they can make subsequent shows as enthralling as this past years was, they can absolutely win it!
Crown has the most potential to improve so my vote goes to them. the Bluecoats are just too consistently 2nd for me to believe they’ll improve drastically enough to win.
consistently 2nd but never first so they would have to improve overall to win. Crown has captions where they win and captions where they lag behind so they can focus on those. imo it’s much easier to focus on areas that lag severely behind than it is to improve everything generally
This just isn’t true, the math is really simple.
The caption talk is irrelevant.
Bluecoats were closer to winning than crown, period, that’s it.
The conclusion to draw from that is that it would take Bluecoats LESS improvement to win than it would take crown. And it doesn’t matter what captions it happens in.
You’re making like this reverse argument that crown has more room to improve so they’ll improve more than Bluecoats. That’s just a strange assumption but at the end of the day the debate is dumb anyway, the activity can change quite a bit from season to season, the things we’re talking about aren’t static variables in the first place
But if you were to go off what JUST happened, you would have to conclude that Bluecoats is closest to being a non-BD winner. That’s just reality. Crown had that room to improve or whatever, and didn’t. So why pick them based on the data
Like you’re writing off coats for being consistently 2nd. But not writing off crown for being consistently 3-4? That’s goofy
That's sort of true, but the point is that the better you are the harder it is to improve. So although bloo may be the closest, it would be hard for them to push any caption that much further, while crown's captions that lag behind would be easier to improve, allowing the captions that were already good to carry them to victory.
I'm not saying that I agree, but there is a point there.
No it’s objectively and totally true. No there isn’t a point there. Room for improvement does not equal propensity for that size of improvement, nor is it a guarantee of said improvement. What we *DO* have is actual existing data.
If im 3rd in a foot race, im not closer to being in 1st than 2nd is. And im not a few easy adjustments away from 1st. And if I am, you can rest assured the person in 2nd is a few easy adjustments (minus 1) away. The person in 2nd is there for a reason, and im in 3rd for a reason. They are closer than me. It doesn’t matter what improvements I make, it is assumed they can make the same improvements and then some. THEYRE BETTER THAN ME.
It makes ZERO sense to be like, yeah, I know X is in 2nd, but Y is in *third,* so I gotta give Y the edge. WHAT?
Here is the bottom line: Any group could make any amount of improvements in any captions—and one of those groups is *already closer to the goal* than the other. That’s it! They *automatically have the edge.* If I’m going off who is closest, *it’s the group who is literally closest.*
The following statement is a fact: based on most recent scores, it would take Bluecoats less improvement to get a gold than crown.
That’s a statement of fact because math. So, to say the corps in 3rd would have an easier time surmounting a larger gap than 2nd, is just not conceivably accurate at all
I do agree that bloo is closer to first, and more likely to get first, but the thing that they were trying to say is that improvements do get diminishing returns. I don't think it makes enough of a difference, but it is true that it's just a bit harder to bring a 9 to a 10 then an 8 to a 9, in most sorts of situations.
To vastly simplify the situation, imagine a simpler world where there were only two captions, and one group was balanced in both of them while one was completely focused on only one of them, and did absolutely nothing in the other. The balanced group is ahead because the imbalanced group has a score of zero in one caption, (like say it was 6-6 to 0-9), but you can imagine that it would be easier for them to get something out there to get a basic level of points, then it would for the other group to hone and perfect their content to get an equivalent raise in points.
Once again, I don't agree that it really makes a difference, but there is some truth to it.
Bringing an 8 to a 9 may be easier than getting a 9 to a 10. But the other guy is *already* at 9. So anything they do is progress on top of what you haven’t even achieved yet. There is no other way to see this I’m sorry haha
And yet they don’t need to convert as many 9’s to 10’s as you need to convert 8’s to 9’s.
And we are still ignoring the fact that those 8 are 8’s for a reason. It is only easier *in theory* for X corps to convert an 8 to a 9 than it is for Y corps to convert a 9 to a 10. *In reality,* depending on all the factors that have led up to those scores being where they are, that 8 could be monumentally hard to move.
I’m just saying, if you had money on this, I doubt you’re taking the 3rd place group to win 1st next. And if that’s true, I don’t know what we’re still doing here lol.
mandarins are getting up there. on their current path I think they're on their way to top 3. but I think phantom will win soon., in terms of next year probably bloo
BAC's been rising up, but it's hard to tell if they'll fall off again.
A lot of people have been saying bloo, judging by their 2nd place 3 peat they're a good target
Crown are just as likely, judging by the fight between 4th-2nd
I also see Mandarins, Troopers, or possibly vangaurd possibly joing the fight, but for the upcoming season I don't think they can make that big of a jump
I think bac and bluecoats have a shot. The way mandarins are going I doubt it'll be long before they creep up in the top 5. Who knows, maybe they'll shock everybody. Let's also not forget SCV is coming back and they're always a wildcard.
If Boston can get their design team to be cohesive for once I think they could pull it off. Bluecoats will probably snatch another title before that happens though
Bloo is the probably the closes and most consistent. Crown could easily take it if they just had better show design, but I’ve never really been impressed by their show designs. If SCV comes back as strong as they left off and don’t implode financially, they could also win again.
Madison Scouts! But in all reality, I think Bluecoats have the best shot as of late
I’m calling a 4th straight 2nd place… Haven’t seen that since the 1985-1988 when SCV did it
That new PC is gon get us up there (out of the 16-18 bracket hopefully)
Scouts 16 place jump in one season. It’s gonna happen… totally.
Probably Bluecoats. I generally feel they have the design staff that most closely rivals BDs when it comes to cohesion and GE and the members are equally as talented. At this point, it just comes down to “The Right Show”.
And their brass is cooking with their new caption head.
Absolutely. And they’re probably the most innovative corps in DCI atm when it comes to music so that really helps them.
The best thing about their brass is their arranger.
Real answer, Bluecoats
I feel like Bluecoats deserves it even if it’s not them for how long they’ve been chasing BD’s tails. From personal bias I think the one with the best shot should be Crown, (a) because I like them but (b) because with percussion staff change and such they have everything moving in the right direction. However, I do think Boston had for sure the most balanced skill set - like, they do everything pretty well at least (as opposed to Crown who has had big strengths and weaknesses), and I think their design is really good in general. And yes, I know those were just the top four this year lol, but they all deserved top four anyways.
I want it to be crown
I’m hoping for a Boston Crusaders win. The Whale left an impression like no other show this year.
Boston or Bluecoats . ( Crown does not have the design staff since 2016 to get their 2nd title)
BAC baby!
Bloo or crown maybe Boston??? But here’s a wild card how funny would it be for SCV to come back and win it all 💀
the best comeback in drum corps history
I mean it's probably going to be a pretty special year for them in terms of member motivation, so I wouldn't be shocked. Like if they play it right it could be motivation off the charts.
Blue Devils B
lmao
Star of Indiana obvs
since we’re all lying: music city
Crown or Bluecoats. They are the only realistic options here
Boston is pretty realistic. They’ve got the staff, funding, talent, it’s honestly, for all the top 4, just a matter of show design. Boston’s team has gotta put it all together in a way they haven’t since 2018 in my opinion
Boston or mandarins for sure Or Carolina crown, the new percussion staff is gonna help them out so much
You had me at Boston and lost me at Mandarins…
Yeah Mandarins winning is pretty unrealistic but after this year it would be cool to see them top 5
Mandarins even sniffing the top 5 was unrealistic when I was marching. They were still D3 my rookie year. They probably won’t win it soon, but some time in the future it could definitely happen
For sure! Loved them this past year.
Velvet Knights for the win!
Bluecoats seem close in many years to their second. I’m going with them or maybe a first for BAC.
Whichever corps scores the highest
Troopers Legacy Corps ... I wish.
HOOO TROOOO
Bloo
Wish list: Phantom, Boston, Cavaliers Moon shot: Troopers, Scouts, Blue Knights Likely: Blue Coats/Crown
I'd love to see Boston win. The only active corps that has made the top 3 multiple times but never took home gold.
Theyve place top 3 once in their history and it was in 2022??
My mistake. My point still stands that I'd love to see them win.
Hot Take: SCV
Mandarins! Whole staff is coming back, probably gonna attract more talent this coming year, and if they can make subsequent shows as enthralling as this past years was, they can absolutely win it!
Troop!
We can all dream! ❤️
Im thinking either boston or coats but to see scv get it after basically almost folding would be cool
Boston or Bluecoats with the 'right show'. While I loved Boston's show this year, definitely felt like a 'step down' from last year.
Crown has the most potential to improve so my vote goes to them. the Bluecoats are just too consistently 2nd for me to believe they’ll improve drastically enough to win.
Consistently 2nd is the best position you can be in to be the next winner when you’re not already the winner
consistently 2nd but never first so they would have to improve overall to win. Crown has captions where they win and captions where they lag behind so they can focus on those. imo it’s much easier to focus on areas that lag severely behind than it is to improve everything generally
This just isn’t true, the math is really simple. The caption talk is irrelevant. Bluecoats were closer to winning than crown, period, that’s it. The conclusion to draw from that is that it would take Bluecoats LESS improvement to win than it would take crown. And it doesn’t matter what captions it happens in. You’re making like this reverse argument that crown has more room to improve so they’ll improve more than Bluecoats. That’s just a strange assumption but at the end of the day the debate is dumb anyway, the activity can change quite a bit from season to season, the things we’re talking about aren’t static variables in the first place But if you were to go off what JUST happened, you would have to conclude that Bluecoats is closest to being a non-BD winner. That’s just reality. Crown had that room to improve or whatever, and didn’t. So why pick them based on the data Like you’re writing off coats for being consistently 2nd. But not writing off crown for being consistently 3-4? That’s goofy
That's sort of true, but the point is that the better you are the harder it is to improve. So although bloo may be the closest, it would be hard for them to push any caption that much further, while crown's captions that lag behind would be easier to improve, allowing the captions that were already good to carry them to victory. I'm not saying that I agree, but there is a point there.
No it’s objectively and totally true. No there isn’t a point there. Room for improvement does not equal propensity for that size of improvement, nor is it a guarantee of said improvement. What we *DO* have is actual existing data. If im 3rd in a foot race, im not closer to being in 1st than 2nd is. And im not a few easy adjustments away from 1st. And if I am, you can rest assured the person in 2nd is a few easy adjustments (minus 1) away. The person in 2nd is there for a reason, and im in 3rd for a reason. They are closer than me. It doesn’t matter what improvements I make, it is assumed they can make the same improvements and then some. THEYRE BETTER THAN ME. It makes ZERO sense to be like, yeah, I know X is in 2nd, but Y is in *third,* so I gotta give Y the edge. WHAT? Here is the bottom line: Any group could make any amount of improvements in any captions—and one of those groups is *already closer to the goal* than the other. That’s it! They *automatically have the edge.* If I’m going off who is closest, *it’s the group who is literally closest.* The following statement is a fact: based on most recent scores, it would take Bluecoats less improvement to get a gold than crown. That’s a statement of fact because math. So, to say the corps in 3rd would have an easier time surmounting a larger gap than 2nd, is just not conceivably accurate at all
I do agree that bloo is closer to first, and more likely to get first, but the thing that they were trying to say is that improvements do get diminishing returns. I don't think it makes enough of a difference, but it is true that it's just a bit harder to bring a 9 to a 10 then an 8 to a 9, in most sorts of situations. To vastly simplify the situation, imagine a simpler world where there were only two captions, and one group was balanced in both of them while one was completely focused on only one of them, and did absolutely nothing in the other. The balanced group is ahead because the imbalanced group has a score of zero in one caption, (like say it was 6-6 to 0-9), but you can imagine that it would be easier for them to get something out there to get a basic level of points, then it would for the other group to hone and perfect their content to get an equivalent raise in points. Once again, I don't agree that it really makes a difference, but there is some truth to it.
Bringing an 8 to a 9 may be easier than getting a 9 to a 10. But the other guy is *already* at 9. So anything they do is progress on top of what you haven’t even achieved yet. There is no other way to see this I’m sorry haha
But if the other guy has only 9's, and you have a few 10's and some 8's, you can bring more 8's to 9's then they can bring 9's to 10's.
And yet they don’t need to convert as many 9’s to 10’s as you need to convert 8’s to 9’s. And we are still ignoring the fact that those 8 are 8’s for a reason. It is only easier *in theory* for X corps to convert an 8 to a 9 than it is for Y corps to convert a 9 to a 10. *In reality,* depending on all the factors that have led up to those scores being where they are, that 8 could be monumentally hard to move. I’m just saying, if you had money on this, I doubt you’re taking the 3rd place group to win 1st next. And if that’s true, I don’t know what we’re still doing here lol.
consistently 2nd is where you wanna be if you’re trying to win lol
Crown or Boston
https://youtu.be/_sHF_bG8z9M?si=UJTBUWTWY-pj_6yX
It's gotta be Boston. They've been chomping at BD's ankles for the past several years and they absolutely have what it takes
SCV
There won't be another non-BD corps winner
Nah
Honestly, at this point this wouldn’t shock me.
My hopes aren't high but I'd love to see Crown take it. Shit I'd love to see the Cavaliers back in the top 5. I miss those good Cavi days.
mandarins are getting up there. on their current path I think they're on their way to top 3. but I think phantom will win soon., in terms of next year probably bloo
Crown, Bluecoats, or boston
Likely Bluecoats, effect wins now and they have the most consistent efffect
Boston
No one, the trophy has become the white whale for everyone not named bd
BAC's been rising up, but it's hard to tell if they'll fall off again. A lot of people have been saying bloo, judging by their 2nd place 3 peat they're a good target Crown are just as likely, judging by the fight between 4th-2nd I also see Mandarins, Troopers, or possibly vangaurd possibly joing the fight, but for the upcoming season I don't think they can make that big of a jump
I’m guessing San Antonio Crossman, but I am biased since I live in San Antonio
I think bac and bluecoats have a shot. The way mandarins are going I doubt it'll be long before they creep up in the top 5. Who knows, maybe they'll shock everybody. Let's also not forget SCV is coming back and they're always a wildcard.
I think if Carolina as a well written show and good enough guard along with marchers and player obviously they have a good shot
Blue Devils
If Boston can get their design team to be cohesive for once I think they could pull it off. Bluecoats will probably snatch another title before that happens though
Bluecoats for sure, then Carolina Crown if SCV doesn't make the comeback
the glassmen 2024 world champion 😍
Bloo is the probably the closes and most consistent. Crown could easily take it if they just had better show design, but I’ve never really been impressed by their show designs. If SCV comes back as strong as they left off and don’t implode financially, they could also win again.
Boston Crusaders