Tourney Of Champions Opens Badgerland M&M Season
*From Doc's Desk*

DCN July 11 1962

The Wisconsin Rapids Tournament of Champions gave me my first 1962 chance to see what Badgerland had to offer Corpswise this year. Outside of the usual tournament rain, the contest was A-OK - if you are willing to forgive the disadvantages of an indoor corps show and its undersized floor, humid and warm air, and the thought of getting home about time for work Monday morning.

First place went to Madison Scouts in their new, dark green cadet type uniforms. The uniforms have slight white trim, and the conservative type West Point plumes. Especially nice is the professional look of the highly polished black shoes (and this Madison is a wise move!) and the sashes which distinguish the commanders from the corpsmen. The corps was tremendous in general and I must compliment Nick on his music! The horns were strong and accurate for this time of year, the drums at this time, I believe, were over-rated a bit when they were put over the 1962 Kilt drummers. Their drill was average, but executed well under the adverse conditions. This year's Madison Scouts are wonderful! They will go far.

Second went to the Racine Scouts in their new white-trimmed uniforms, and impressive Aussie type hats. These boys have fine spirit, and did a good job executing their simply constructed drill on the small floor. Their music was well done and had power. G.E. music was much better than G.E. drill but the spirit of the boys does a lot to make up for what lacks in the drill. Their drums were average to good, and I think the corps will have a nice year.

Third place went to the Racine Kilts with a 78.3, 3.8 points behind the Racine Scouts, and 6.45 points behind Madison. The Kilts had more trouble with the floor than any other corps. Their drill was almost destroyed under the handicap and it affected their horns a lot. The music was fine but lacked the power of the other units. (I do hope this is not a permanent defect.)

Their drums were really fine and it looks like a top drum line this year. The spirit seemed lax, probably due to the knowledge of what was happening to the drill. Mr. Carl Last won the best Drum Major award in the parade and looked equally tough on the floor. The drill construction is simpler than last year but a lot more intricate than the other competing units. The corps will shape up when the shows get outdoors and will do well this year. What is lacking most is the complete absense of theme music, but then who says, "Scotchmen" must play Island Music? Their "Hands Across The Sea" will be a spectacular number all season. (I have suggestions, Emil.)

In fourth place was the Indianhead Council Scouts. Their horns sounded O.K. and displayed some power. The drums were better than I have heard in this unit before. The Color Guard was nice but displayed some flagrant Flag Ettiquette, especially when the U.S. flag came from behind in an echelon with all the other flags to its front on right and left. The corps was nice.... 77.9.

The St. Matthias Cadets were fifth, with a 76.9. A fast cadence and a nice drill. Good spirit, coupled with a nice marching style and an appearance of confidence and poise, made this young unit outstanding, and in my opinion, under-rated in M&M. They had surprisingly good drums (however, afraid to pick up their feet), and pretty good horns for their ages. I think this unit is a future winner, barring any unexpected happenings which would disrupt their progress. Horns lack power a bit, but are good for a mixed line.

In sixth place, the Cedarburg Thunderbolts scored 76.6. This is another mixed unit. Nice music (A lot of band people, no doubt)! M&M quite neat and I thought it was one of the good units in the show. The girl snares do a commendable job. The whole unit was smooth and had a good repertoire. I did not especially like the red trim on the upper uniform in contrast to the blue on the trousers, but this is trivial opinion even though it distracted me. (The lightning bolt on the back could go! Constructive!)

7th place went to the Eau Claire Boys. They reminded me of Garfield Cadets after they left Holy Name and temporarily got the white bermudas, Aussie hats, etc. in fact, the two uniforms are almost identical. In general, the corps attracts attention. Their precision is a bit defective and their basic M&M fundamentals, etc. is rather weak. Flag Ettiquette goes to pot at times: e.g., U.S. flag in center of Corps on entrance and behind other flags in single file during the drill.

Some parts of their drill are very effective (squad slip throughs) DBP&E off at times, especially moving at attention. The corps has a nice musical repertoire and the drums are OK. I do not know if the bells help them or not. The unit does sport a working potential and may be a big one some day.

The Spam Town Lancers with a 72.2 and 2.7 behind Eau Claire occupied the number eight spot. A pretty corps and uniform-wise they have the Blessed Sacrament look. I really think the word Spam in their title does much to give the impression of "not the best". The word, "Spam", to most people means a can of meat, and no matter how good a corps is, Spam is still a can of cold, gelatinous , meat. The beautiful effect of the corps uniforms was almost destroyed by the red plumed, blue-shirted drum majors.

The majors clashed with the corps. The corps displayed some nice horn blowing and their repertoire was really all right, though I sensed the patterning after several other corps repertoires in theirs. (Skokie, Hawthorne, Geneva, Pittsburgh, etc.). The young and very promising unit, showed faulty precision all around, with the great need of work on basic fundamentals. A lot of potential there!

In 9th was the Maria High School Girls with 66.2. These are nice looking girls. They have spirit, ambition, and all it takes for a corps except ideas and training. In the sense of pure constructive criticism, I make the following statements. I surely would not want to, in any way, hurt feelings. First of all, the Strutting Drum Major is "Mickey Mouse". (Not the girl, just the style) It is not "Corps" to strut like a leader of "Copina's Twirling Corps". The big baton would go over in Kilts' Carl Last's hand but not in the Maria Corps.

A 100% improvement would be effected if the corps got plumes on the inclined shakoes, and the whole corps attained the look of the color guard "gals", who wear boots, instead of the little sneakers or shoes worn by the corps. The corps marched O.K., but a great improvement would come about if all the girls managed to pick up their right legs as well as their left. (This was bad.)

Tenth place went to the Blue Notes with 65.0. I really can't say why the corps got last! Maybe it is because of the name Ishpeming preceding the Blue Notes. Ishpeming, like Spam, just doesn't put strangers or judges in the exact right frame of mind - - I mean this, and not being sarcastic either. The corps had nice music for a mixed unit. The M&M was O.K. and power was shown at times. Potential was there, and this corps was not last place in my opinion. Keep up the good work Blue Notes.

PS: The Mariner Drill Team and Guard of the Spectacle City have one of the finest field drills a drill team could have. They are willing to show such at any break at any corps shows. Hope some of you consider this as you set up your programs. It is very hard to keep a drill team alive. Believe me, this team can entertain as well as a musical unit. Give them a chance.

Dr. H.R. Patin