And in my defense-- Cape Coral is from Florida!!
Ohio is neither the East Coast nor the Northeast haha. Our coast is Lake Erie (for better or worse). Cape Coral is actually part of the Gulf Coast and isn't part of the East Coast or Northeast circuits either.
Ouch. It's like a Nationals competition in its own right. All of these groups could go on to the Nationals comp. Pretty sure they all have qualified for it before.
Predictions: Probably Clinton first, I guess? I dunno. I could see Ankeny Centennial taking second, no idea about third. Omaha and Marysville have had good starts, especially Omaha. Brea Olinda always places high at Fame competitions and Hart does well, too. Of course, three of these groups haven't debuted their sets yet so basically...no idea. On any of it. My predictions are vague and terrible.
Well this is not the first year I have thought this about the FAME system, so I'll reserve my judgment, I suppose, but I've had these thoughts for a couple years.
And do you REALLY think Northridge could compete at Orlando #1??? They would likely get last, or 2nd to last, at this regional. Yes, they could win Chicago, but doesn't that make my point even more?? I have liked Northridge shows in past years, but they are not at the same level.
The only reason I would think FAME couldn't spread the regionals around more would be the schools travel schedules. Likely, most of these schools want to do their regional during spring break. I would think FAME would want to spread the regionals around more because it would attract more groups. We see all the time in regular competitions that a competition can be "too big" and is REALLY small the next year because groups don't want to compete in a bloodbath. I think FAME could look at the scheduling of the regional system for future years. They may notice that some regionals/dates get more interest than others, and could eliminate a site/weekend. Just something to think about. I like to debate about things like this. I have attended a couple of FAME competitions as a spectator, so I am not anti-FAME in general.
Oh, for sure Jay. I certainly know you aren't anti-FAME. You've been around a long time. I know you better than that.
For clarification, I didn't say I would peg Northridge as a hypothetical favorite at Orlando #1. I just think they're a worthy group to be a part of FAME's SCNCS. And to your valid point about FAME adjusting dates as needed for their regionals, I think we're seeing that already. Hollywood has been one of their struggling regionals and next year they've pushed it back to be the last regional as opposed to the first.
I also wouldn't undersell the quality of the other regionals. Chicago isn't a clear-cut win for Decatur as Manchester regularly competes in FAME and has placed in years past and Northridge is a group on the rise as they ended DeKalb's reign on ISSMA as Northridge was crowned the small school state champion last year.
Don't get me wrong, I do think there's a good chance the 2015 FAME National Champion could come from this qualifier, but you can't forget about Los Al and Loveland from the New York qualifier either. It's way too early to tell or pass judgment on the FAME system.
Well this is not the first year I have thought this about the FAME system, so I'll reserve my judgment, I suppose, but I've had these thoughts for a couple years.
And do you REALLY think Northridge could compete at Orlando #1??? They would likely get last, or 2nd to last, at this regional. Yes, they could win Chicago, but doesn't that make my point even more?? I have liked Northridge shows in past years, but they are not at the same level.
The only reason I would think FAME couldn't spread the regionals around more would be the schools travel schedules. Likely, most of these schools want to do their regional during spring break. I would think FAME would want to spread the regionals around more because it would attract more groups. We see all the time in regular competitions that a competition can be "too big" and is REALLY small the next year because groups don't want to compete in a bloodbath. I think FAME could look at the scheduling of the regional system for future years. They may notice that some regionals/dates get more interest than others, and could eliminate a site/weekend. Just something to think about. I like to debate about things like this. I have attended a couple of FAME competitions as a spectator, so I am not anti-FAME in general.
One of my big problems with this national format is the huge disparity between regional sites. This regional is PACKEDDDDDDDD, while Chicago has really one group (Decatur) that consistently performs on a national level. Branson has a lot of good groups who are consistent finals groups, but this Orlando has a lot of AMAZING, GC-worthy groups. I wish FAME did a better job at spreading the good groups around. I suppose a lot of it has to do with warm locations/dates, but even the other Orlando has a clear Top 3, and it would be a surprise if those groups beat out the top level groups at this week in Orlando!
Valid frustrations, but I'm not sure it's FAME's place to "spread the good groups around." Choosing a regional site is pretty much on the school/director and they are the ones who have to weigh which is more important... a big, fun, new, educational trip or a perceived easy region to qualify for the national finals. I'm not sure with the logistics of planning a national trip, FAME can just shuffle schools around to "balance" the playing field. And who gets to determine what "balance" really means?
I think it's also crucially important to note that not all qualifying groups are going to attend. For example, none of the choirs from Orlando #2 attended the national finals last year. In this "packed" regional, Westside has qualified twice before and never attended the national finals while Hart qualified at FAME NY in 2013, but wasn't able to attend the national finals. We also have no idea if Clinton would even want to attend the national finals. So with all of that being said, I think it's a bit premature to worry about quality groups being left out of the national finals and worrying about there being disparity. Not to mention hypothetically even if the top 3 mixed groups choose to attend the national finals, FAME could throw in a wild card system similar to what they did in the 2013 cycle where they invited a fourth group from both Orlando's.
I also wouldn't undersell the quality of the other regionals. Chicago isn't a clear-cut win for Decatur as Manchester regularly competes in FAME and has placed in years past and Northridge is a group on the rise as they ended DeKalb's reign on ISSMA as Northridge was crowned the small school state champion last year.
Don't get me wrong, I do think there's a good chance the 2015 FAME National Champion could come from this qualifier, but you can't forget about Los Al and Loveland from the New York qualifier either. It's way too early to tell or pass judgment on the FAME system.
One of my big problems with this national format is the huge disparity between regional sites. This regional is PACKEDDDDDDDD, while Chicago has really one group (Decatur) that consistently performs on a national level. Branson has a lot of good groups who are consistent finals groups, but this Orlando has a lot of AMAZING, GC-worthy groups. I wish FAME did a better job at spreading the good groups around. I suppose a lot of it has to do with warm locations/dates, but even the other Orlando has a clear Top 3, and it would be a surprise if those groups beat out the top level groups at this week in Orlando!
Fortunately this falls over my spring break and my parents live in Orlando