July 31 - Lynn, MA

DCE Finals

After Prelims we went back to Melrose. Randall and I went into town and got a pizza. After dinner we practiced a little and we were hot again. When we got to the show, we had the hottest warmup ever! We were blowing people away. The Execution judge from Prelims even came by to see us warm up. He knows who's hot!

We had another great show. Jim Mallen was on Execution. What a spineless jellyfish! He tied us with the Bridgemen. There were no snare, bass or tenor tics through the first two numbers. Tenors were tic-less for the show. Screwed in P.A. again 7.0 to 7.6

*27th changed almost their whole drill since we saw them last.

Corps
1. Garfiled Cadets 83.35
2. Crossmen 82.70
3. Bridgemen 80.85
4. 27th Lancers 77.80
5. North Star 72.90
6. Defenders 71.25
7. Alliance 68.00
8. Avant Garde 63.50
9. Les Eclipses 60.45
10. Boston Crusaders 58.75

Drums
1. Bridgemen 18.5
2. Crossmen 17.8

July 31 - Lynn, MA

DCE Prelims

We are staying at some armory in Melrose, MA. We got here about 7:00am. They let us sleep for a couple of hours. We got up, warmed up, and did a few run-throughs in the park across from the armory. It was a really good rehearsal. At Prelims, we SMOKED! We drummed our first 11 in Execution. However, McCarty screwed us in P.A. He gave us a 6.7. This is the same guy that gave us a 7.0 just a few days ago at The Dream. How can our P.A. score drop in just a week? I smell politics. Bridgemen only had 8 snares today. I guess that is how they drummed an 11.2 in Ex. Garfield got a gift in horns (23.4). Man I hate Massachusetts.

Corps
1. Garfield Cadets 83.40
2. Crossmen 82.75
3. Bridgemen 81.35
4. 27th Lancers 79.25
5. North Star 71.00
6. Defenders 69.65
7. Alliance 68.65
8. Avant Garde 63.70
9. Les Eclipses 60.20
10. Boston Crusaders 59.50
11. Valley-Airs 51.45
12. Arbella 49.05
13. Bluecoats 47.60
14. Fantasia III 46.15
15.Buckeye State Caballeros 44.25
16. Les Aventuriers 43.55
17. Fusion 42.70
18. Black Watch 41.25
18. Renegades 41.25

Drums
1. Bridgemen 18.4
2. Crossmen 17.7

July 25 - New Brunswick, NJ

It was a fast paced day. We got to Rutgers University at about 11:00am. Warmed up, did a run through, and then played the show. Rod Goodhart was on Execution and he did us right. We blew the Bridgemen's line out of New Jersey. Unfortunately, we lost the show to Garfield because of a big spread in horns (1.4)

Corps
1. Garfield Cadets 81.50
2. Crossmen 80.70
3. Bridgemen 77.60
4. Fantasia III 50.10
5. Black Watch 40.30

Drums
1. Crossmen 17.3
2. Bridgemen 16.4
3. Garfield  15.8

July 24 - Hershey, PA

Practiced at Milton Hershey school. Practice was good - gnats were bad. We played a great show! We got back on top in the east by beating Garfield by 2 points and Bridgemen by 3 points!! We tied in drums on the field but won GE so we win drums!

Corps
1. Crossmen 81.10
2. Garfield Cadets 79.30
3. Bridgemen 78.80
4. Fantasia III 49.30
5. Fusion 36.70

Drums
1. Crossmen 17.3
2. Bridgemen 17.3

July 18 - Bayonne, NJ

We left for Bayonne about 11:30am. Practiced in Bayonne Park. It was a great practice and a good show. However, we were killed in M&M and ended up 3rd overall. I think it's a little suspect that Bridgemen won their home show. Some Garfield kids thought we should have won.

Only two lines in DCI have broken 17 - Us and Bridgemen.

Corps
1. Bridgemen 80.50
2. Garfield Cadets 78.50
3. Crossmen 78.20
4. Les Eclipse 58.30
5. Fantasia III  43.55

Drums
1. Bridgemen 17.80
2. Crossmen 17.30
3. Garfield 14.70

July 17 - Carlisle, PA

Frank and I overslept and missed the bus to Norwood for a parade. Frank drove and we were able to make the parade on time.

After the parade we went to Carlisle and practiced all day. We put a new end on "Artistry". Tonight we played an exhibition at the DCA show. It was not very good. Everyone is a little pissed off. I also think we are feeling the pressure of being one of the top lines in DCI.

July 16 - Philadelphia, PA

Well, it's back to the grind. We marched a long parade in Center City followed by a standstill in front of Independence Hall - that was pretty cool. C. Brown had a party tonight.

July 10 - Allentown, PA

DCI East Finals

After dinner we relaxed, then warmed up. Everybody was psyched up for finals. We had a super drum show. We tied Bridgemen in Execution but lost P.A. by .7 We were dumped in Brass and Percussion GE. That cost us the show. I'm very depressed. Cole and his sister are here and so Frank & I are going back to Lynchburg with them for a few days off. I need it.

1. Garfield Cadets 80.50
2. Crossmen 79.50
3. Bridgemen 77.35
4. Cavaliers 76.20
5. 27th Lancers 75.05
6. Spirit 71.00

Drums
1. Bridgemen 17.70
2. Crossmen 17.00

July 10 - Allentown, PA

DCI EAST Prelims

We limped into Allentown with three buses early this morning. We went to some school and started practicing. But the lady across the street called the police on us because we were too loud. Archie almost got arrested again because we didn't ask to use this place either.

It was really hot at Prelims. Had a great show. 1st in GE and 2nd in everything else. Won by 1.4 over Garfield.

1. Crossmen 79.75
2. Garfield Cadets 78.35
3. Bridgemen 77.55
4. 27th Lancers 74.70
5. Cavaliers 73.70
6. Spirit of Atlanta 72.65
7. North Star 64.40
8. Suncoast Sound 60.40

Drums
1. Bridgemen 17.0
2. Crossmen 16.7
3. Garfield / Spirit 15.6
5. Cavaliers 15.5
6. 27th 15.4

July 9 - Westminster, MD

Boy did we have a bad day! Thumper (Bus #4) died about 4:00am. So all of the staff piled on the other three buses. Then we were just outside of Harrisonburg, VA when Herbie (my bus) died. Luckily, Memphis Blues came along. They took some of us and the rest spread out on the remaining two Crossmen busses. We ended up at a Highs Ice Cream Store somewhere in West Virginia. We were going to practice on the parking lot next door, but the guy who owned the place came along and said if we didn't leave he was going to arrest Archie for trespassing (Robbie is is back with bus #4).

We made it to some rest stop on I-70 where Spirit's buses came and got us so we could make the show. We won #7. The horns were HOT! They broke 20 for the first time. Drums did not do so well. On to Allentown. We got Thumper back.

1. Crossmen 77.85
2. Spirit of Atlanta 74.65
3. North Star 63.65
4. Defenders 60.10
5. Alliance 51.90
6. Avant Garde 48.90
7. Southwind 41.20

Drums
1. Crossmen 15.8
2. Spirit 14.3

July 9 - Cullowhee, NC

Housing site was Western Carolina University. We were in an auxiliary gym. Suncoast stayed in the gym right below us. We had a really nice practice field and of course, it rained again. I think it's following us. The show was on campus in the big stadium. Beautiful Astroturf field. We got win #6. I guess 27th is tired of us beating them. They had a few choice words for us at retreat. Then stood at the gate and booed us as we played our encore. We were ready for a rumble when we left the field, but they had packed up and left pretty quick. On the way to Westminster, MD.

1. Crossmen 76.95
2. 27th Lancers 74.80
3. Suncoast Sound 66.35
4. Memphis Blues 56.25
5. Pride of Cincinnati 42.95
6. Southernaires 31.15

Drums
1. Crossmen 16.2
2. 27th 15.7

July 7 - Sevierville, TN

Housing site was Sevierville Middle School. We marched around the parking lot playing the "check" exercise A LOT! Rained hard just as we were doing the last run. Won the show again - that's #5. In 1976 the Crossmen were disqualified here for having over age members. That was avenged when Robbie dug up a piece of the turf.

1. Crossmen 74.80
2 27th Lancers 73.30
3. Suncoast 65.25
4. North Star 61.50
5. Memphis Blues 57.95
6. Pride of Cincinnati 40.70
7. Southernaires 29.85

July 6 - Huntsville, AL

We stayed at Lee HS. The grass on the practice field was two feet high. Won our 4th show in a row. We did not have a very good drum show. Lame crowd, bad city, bad night. I still don't feel 100% but I'm getting better.

1. Crossmen 76.30
2 27th Lancers 73.65
3. Suncoast Sound 65.40
4. North Star 63.15
5. Memphis Blues 56.90
6. Southernaires 30.75

Drums
1. Crossmen 16.0
2 27th 15.5

July 5 - Montgomery, AL

We left Atlanta about 4:00am. This morning we came upon the North Star's equipment truck on I-20 west of Atlanta. It had wrecked and flipped off the road. Luckily, no one was hurt bad. When we were practicing, the bank sign across the street showed 108 degrees. It was so HOT! But so were we - we won our third show in a row!

1. Crossmen 75.90
2. 27th Lancers 73.20
3. Spirit 69.95
4. Memphis Blues 58.90
5. Pride of Cincinnati 40.70

Drums
1. Crossmen 16.5
2. 27th 16.3

July 4 - Atlanta, GA

We had a parade this afternoon and then got the rest of the day off. Most of the corps went to Stone Mountain. I'm still feeling lame so I'm at Aunt Donnie's washing clothes and relaxing. Braves just beat the Reds 4-1. We leave for Montgomery, AL tonight.

July 3 - Atlanta, GA

Arrived at Lilburn Middle School really early. I have been real sick all day. Mom came down for the show and stopped by to see us in the morning. We practiced on the parking lot of some nearby high school. Man it was hot! Did a roll stroll for 1.25 miles.

The show was at Grant Field and I loved the stadium. We won again - two in a row! Blair was on Execution again and hit us hard. Mom, Jennie, Donnie & Page were at the show. But I really feel like crap.

Corps
1. Crossmen 73.35
2. Bridgemen 72.05
3. 27th Lancers 70.30
4. Spirit 68.35
5. North Star 54.60
6. Defenders 51.05
7. Avant Garde 40.80

Drums
1. Bridgemen 17.0
2. Crossmen 16.0
3. 27th 15.6

July 2 - Columbia, SC

Housing site is North Highlands HS. Eric Smith (Gomer) went to school here. There is some virus going around the corps and I think I've got it. Woke up sick this morning. No fun!

The show was at Irmo HS and we won! This was our first win on tour. Rod Goodhart was on Execution. We won Ex but lost PA - Lost overall drums by .3

Corps
1. Crossmen 73.50
2. Bridgemen 72.30
3. 27th Lancers 70.30
4. Spirit of Atlanta 68.30
5. North Star 53.40

Drums
1. Brisgemen 16.3
2. Crossmen 16.0
3. 27th Lancers 15.0

July 1 - Charlotte, NC

We stayed at some middle school here in Charlotte. Boy was it HOT! The practice field was really nice. I think Chris was on speed - seriously hyper! We had a super run-through at the end of practice. Had a good show too. but ended up 3rd after getting dumped in brass. One guy had us 1st, the other had us 6th???? John Blair on Execution and he beat us up again.

Corps
1. 27th Lancers 71.00
2. Bridgemen 70.75
3. Crossmen 68.15
4. Spirit of Atlanta 67.15
5 North Star 55.05

Drums
1 Bridgemen 15.6
2. 27th Lancers 15.3
3. Crossmen 15.1