Today in 1982 - Atlanta, Georgia Contest

Today in 1982, six Northeastern corps went head to head against the host corps in the southern heat of Atlanta, Georgia at Georgia Tech University. Here are the results:

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

Trivia

• The top four corps in this contest made DCI Finals that season.
• The placement of the top four corps on this day was not the order at DCI Finals. The final placement was 27th Lancers (6th - 88.65), Crossmen (7th - 88.05), Bridgemen (8th - 86.15), and Spirit of Atlanta (12th - 81.65).
• Of the corps competing, only the Crossmen and Spirit of Atlanta are still active.
• The last time the Crossmen made DCI Finals was 2004.They consistently made DCI Finals from 1977-2004, with a few misses in between, including controversial exclusions in 1979 and 1983. Their best placement ever at DCI Finals was 6th (1992 and 1997).
• Spirit of Atlanta made DCI Finals last year for the first time since 2007. Their best placement ever at DCI Finals was 4th in 1980.
• Outside of the still active Crossmen and Spirit of Atlanta, none of the remaining corps made it out of the 1980's;
• This was the last season for North Star and the Defenders.
• Avant Garde was next to go in 1985. The 27th Lancers folded after the 1986 season and the Bridgemen folded in 1988.
• The three corps who didn't make DCI Finals in 1982 had respectable placements: North Star (16th - 74.60), Defenders (20th - 72.05), and Avant Garde (27th - 65.15). 
• Although they were in 27th place at DCI Prelims, Avant Garde beat former DCI Finalists Anaheim Kingsmen (28th - 64.15), Guardsmen (32nd - 57.75), and the Blue Stars (37th - 53.10). They beat future DCI Finalists Bluecoats (33rd - 56.25), and Glassmen (34th - 55.50). The were edged for 26th place by future DCI finalist Boston Crusaders by .15.
• The last place corps in Open Class at the DCI Championships in 1982 were the Connecticut Classics. They scored a 29.75 and came in 48th place. This does not include Class A and All-Girl corps.

Former Crossmen rookie snare Mike Scott has a blog about the Crossmen's 1982 season. His blog entry for today's contest is here:  Crossmen 1982 - Atlanta, Georgia. Scott's entry has percussion scores and a picture from the contest.

To view the corps repertoires and see more scores from the 1982 season, go to Corpsreps. If you want to learn more about the drum and bugle corps activity, go to Drum Corps International and Drum Corps Associates.