I don't know about World Class, but remember that DCI isn't just World Class as most bandos assume. There are some Open Class corps from Canada. I kind of wish we'd go back to the Boerma arrangement or before.

I know there were open class corps from canada, But thats what got me thinking. No open class corp is there to play "America O' Canada" Why do they play it? I understand representing the entire DCI foundation, but if it's just those top 8 corps there to play the retreat that they earned...Why do they play that song? Why not just "America the Beautiful"

"top 8 corps"? When did finals shrink from 12?

Personally, I'm not a fan of the whole mass brass thing anyway. Either do an old school retreat or skip playing at all (other than the encore, of course). I don't really want to hear a cheesy arrangement of "America/O Canada" played poorly.

Speaking of which... Sore losers? Give me a break. I'd be amazed if there weren't multiple people from multiple corps doing nasty screams and hanging over. (Don't all soprano/trumpet players do that? ) Assuming a few of them might've been from the Blue Devils, they probably would've done it win or lose.

There were plenty of shenanegans to be had most werent over the top, And I found Crowns guard, and the phantom drum major to be quite entertaining.... however from where I was sitting I found most of the poor desicion making in the bluecoats block, I was sitting just in front of the cadets, They not only over played, (as most corps do during AOC), but many member chosed to play on WELL after the cutoff, all those extra sounds on the end were from the coats, not the devs. on one even choose to blow his horn even after the rerst of the corps decided to stop. (IE to get the last sound in) When thier scores were announced many of them cheered and hooped an hollered, when they found they beat SCV. very unclassy.

The Open Class (and International . . . and up until last year Div III) champion is at World Class retreat unless they've changed things this year. There very well could be a Canadian corps out there every now and then. Besides, if they cut O Canada from it, just go ahead and call it Drum Corps America . . . or I guess DCUSA since DCA's already taken.

An apology for the behavior at retreat -- from a blue team, but not the one accused at the start of the thread:

http://www.bluecoats.com/news_detail.asp?news_id=271

Hmm...I never would've expected that. Oh well. At least they're having some fun after a long summer

Well, Something tells me if this is as big of a tradition as it seems to be. The Bluecoats will be doing the same thing next year. Who knows, they may be able to stop it, But I have a feeling its just going to be a wasted effort.

I don't think its ever been overdone to the point where its distasteful before.

Though, maybe it has. I just haven't seen any controversy over it until now.

I want to know where he got tradition out of one year... minor shenanigans are one thing, usually is restraned to members over hype high note, cutoff, and volume because its an un-judged performance, but What some of bluecoats did was far beyond distasteful, it was distracting, and offensive and the people Ive spoken to (who were on the field that night, in the coats and other corps) were embarrased by what a few members did.