Crossmen Spring Training: Special Report

I was fortunate enough to attend the first four days of Crossmen spring training in San Antonio (TX) during Memorial Day weekend. Like many other alumni, I was very cautious about what to expect. I had heard things from people who've been with the corps all winter, but really, with so many new faces on board and a cross-country move of around 2000 miles, I honestly didn't know what to expect.

-Would the new staff gel together and know what they were doing?

-Would the new director and admin team be overwhelmed with the harsh reality of running a DCI Division I drum corps?

-Would the corps have enough vets to sustain the history and traditions of the corps and pass down that legacy to so many new members?

-Would the show be good enough to get the corps back into finals where so many fans and alumni have come to expect them to be?

-Could the Crossmen still be "the Crossmen" 2000 miles away from their geographical birthplace? Would their identity remain intact?

These are all legitimate concerns that have been expressed by many alumni, myself included, since the move was announced back in September of 2006. Superimpose on top of that the highly charged emotions of sadness and bitterness and even anger of the corps leaving their long-time home in the Delaware Valley, and what remains to the alumni is a lot of mixed feelings and wonderment about what (if any) the future holds for the Crossmen.

Well, after spending some quality time with the corps, working with the staff and kids on their show, getting to know and talk to the people running the operation down there, this is what I walked away with...THE CROSSMEN ARE IN VERY VERY GOOD HANDS.

THE FACILITY

After arriving at the airport in San Antonio, I was picked up and brought to the Crossmen spring training facility about ten minutes away. It's called the Blossom Athletic Center and it is, in a word, magnificent! As the athletic hub of the North East Independent School District, this sports complex is home to eight of the local high schools, including Ronald Reagan HS where the corps holds winter rehearsals. (See photo gallery here.)

Included in the complex is a large turf stadium with a very high press box that serves as the main rehearsal and ensemble field. Having a stadium like this is such a luxury at this stage of the game before the season begins. Most corps have to wait to get on the road, and even then might not get to rehearse in such a venue even once all summer. The benefits of being able to see the drill clearly and to give the corps confidence filling up a large stadium with their sound and presence can not be underestimated.

Adjacent to the main stadium are two grass soccer fields that serve as sectional rehearsal fields, primarily for brass and percussion. One of those fields also has a medium height press box similar to the average high school football stadium.

The corps also has access to the outfield of a nearby baseball field and there is plenty of parking lot space around to lay down a field, but so far, they have not needed to do so.

The corps sleeps in the actual Blossom Athletic Center itself, a fairly large indoor basketball arena. Sleeping bags and air mattresses cover the floor at night, and during the day the color guard is often seen learning new work for the show or working in sectionals.

A short walk away, the corps' food truck is parked outside an air conditioned dining hall-- a welcome relief from the hot Texas sun.

All in all, with the amenities and luxuries this facility provides, in addition to its close proximity to the airport and nearby shopping centers and supplies, it is no exaggeration to say that the Crossmen easily have one of the finest drum corps rehearsal facilities in the country.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION
Based on all I've seen and learned in my brief time spent with the corps over Memorial Day weekend, it is clear that a foundation is being set into place with the goal of ensuring that the Crossmen will be one of DCI's finest drum corps, on and off the field, for many years to come.

The quality of the instructional staff is high in all captions-- extremely gifted arrangers and designers, highly capable, hard-working and experienced tech staffs, and excellent teachers all around. Their persistant efforts are paying off by instilling in the corps very high standards that will serve them well as the season progresses. Attention to detail is high, and the kids work very hard and show rapid signs of improvement daily.

The administrative team, spearheaded by first-year director Mark Chambers, Corps Operations Manager Fred Morrison, and Megh Healy from YEA have been working non-stop to make sure the corps has everything they need. There is no shortage of passion amongst these people, and an ever-growing sense of giving the corps the very best of whatever it is they need. They will have some bumps along the road, for sure, as will anyone who runs a world class drum corps. But the folks steering this ship are doing so with a very sound long-term plan and they have excellent track records in their previous professional endeavors. They are professional, they are caring, they are hard-working, they are accustomed to success and have very high standards. It's true what former Crossmen director Scott Litzenberg told me at the Beef 'n Beer when he said, "These are our kind of people!"

As far as the 2007 show goes, many alumni have expressed fears that the corps would lose its identity by moving to Texas and they would forget who they were and what the corps is all about.

All I can say is...Fear not!

The 2007 Crossmen show, entitled "Metamorphosis", is in many ways a love letter to all Crossmen, past and present. It presents a fine mix of old school sensibilities with a very progressive approach that is quite modern and fresh. It truly is a metamorphosis of styles that pays homage to Crossmen past while setting up a very cutting edge future for the corps. Musically and visually, there is plenty in this show that will make any Crossmen alum smile. There are many special suprises in store when you see this show, so audio and video clips have been sparse at best. But I think it's safe to say that if you marched in the Crossmen before, this is a show you will not want to miss. Make your plans now to catch the corps when they are in your nearby area.

MAINTAINING THE LEGACY AND MOVING FORWARD
In addition to reaffirming their commitment to Crossmen pride and tradition on the field, the returning members of the corps (some 40 or so in all) have done an absolutely outstanding job of making sure that the new members understand the legacy they have become part of. Led by returning drum major Jarrett Lipman, they talk frequently as a corps about the corps history and traditions, they watch and listen to great Crossmen shows of the past, and there is just an overall sense of inclusiveness and corps pride amongst the members that is just as strong now as it ever was.

In general, the more these new folks are told about the Crossmen, the more they WANT to know. They eat it up and are always eager for more. Director Mark Chambers and I spoke at length about the fears that many alumni have about the corps losing touch with their identity. He understands why they might feel that way, but had to laugh and say, "Man, why would we want to get rid of all that great stuff?!" The Crossmen, he said, were a corps that he always felt a strong connection to, primarily because they knew exactly who they were. The look, the attitude, the uniform, the aussies, the cross-- those things that mean so much to Crossmen alumni mean just as much to the new folks running the corps. More than anyone, they knew that dismissing any of that would be a monumental error in judgment. Make no mistake about it, every effort is being made to make sure that the Crossmen identity is not only maintained, but augmented and enhanced in their new home.

Much has been made over the years about the frustrating repeating cycle the Crossmen have gone through. It's a cycle we know all too well. The corps starts to build something great, they peak, and then they go through a period of struggle, often coming close to disappearing forever. It's happened many times in the last 32 years, yet somehow the corps has managed to "come back from the dead." I think the phrase that best sums up what's going on down in Texas right now came from visual designer and DCI Hall of Famer Marc Sylvester. He stated with great confidence, "We're gonna bring the Crossmen back from the dead. For GOOD."

DON'T WAIT TO GET INVOLVED!
As optimistic as all of this might sound, there is still a great deal of work to do, and everyone down there realizes it and is eager to accept those challenges. Corps Operations Manager Fred Morrison spoke very candidly to me about the many emails and phonecalls he has gotten from alumni who have expressed all sorts of frustration with how the corps was run in the past. He's heard many people insist they will wait to see how things go this year before getting involved. His message to those alumni...DON'T WAIT. Your support is needed NOW more than ever.

As the Crossmen prepare for their return to independent status as a drum corps, there are still many obstacles to overcome. Much has been said about how the Crossmen are all about UNITY and passion and sticking together through thick and thin. Well, that is still true. The corps is about to embark on an unprecedented journey and they have many of the pieces in place to make that journey one of the most amazing comeback stories in all of DCI history. The one element that can really provide a boost and expidate that journey into reality is the SUPPORT and ACTIVE PARTICIPATION from all Crossmen alumni.

Here's how can you help...

-Come spend a day (or many days) with the corps on tour. Volunteer some time if they are in your area. Donate some food or other tour necessities, offer to drive around town to help gather supplies or make airport runs, help out on the food truck. There are so many ways you can have such an immediate and direct impact. Every little bit helps.

-Support the Crossmen financially. If you can't make it to a show this summer, or just don't have the kind of time to come and volunteer, your financial support will do wonders to help get the corps the things it needs while on tour. Both the Crossmen and Crossmen Alumni Association have areas of their websites where you can donate online. Or you can mail your checks directly to the Crossmen in Texas:

CROSSMEN
P.O. Box 591940
San Antonio, TX 78259

-JOIN THE CROSSMEN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION! For a very reasonable $25 a year, you can make such an impactful difference. The CAA has been growing in recent years, and has helped sponsor members, donated much needed tour items like truck generators and trailers, and has helped to defray the cost of returning members' flights to Texas from the north east. The money we take in from memberships and fundraising events like our annual Beef 'n Beer go directly back to the corps in one way or another. With over 2500 Crossmen alumni out there, if every one of them became a member of the CAA, that's over $60,000 in membership fees alone every single year that could do a WORLD of difference in helping the Crossmen. An increased level of direct alumni involvement in the CAA also means greater opportunities for future fundraisers and helping to provide the corps with the financial stability they have lacked for much of their existance. Don't wait...click here to join us TODAY!

TIME TO STAND UP AND BE COUNTED
For years, many alumni have asked..."When are the Crossmen going to finally break through and make it?" I've been involved with many a conversation over the years with other alumni who talked about winning the lottery and buying everything the corps needs. Well, folks, now is your chance to really stand up and be counted. The opportunity facing the Crossmen right now is enormous. The pieces are in place and we can all be a part of it together. It is time for alumni everywhere to BELIEVE and ACT. Don't wait around. Don't sit on the fence on this one. Great things are in store for the Crossmen in the future. Everything we've always talked about and dreamed about, the best of the best that we've always wanted for the corps is staring us right in the face. The people running the corps are going to do great things, but they still need our help. And so do the members of the corps. They love when we come around and visit and share our past with them. They are enthusiastic about their history and traditions. They are eager to bring the Crossmen to new heights, and they want the alumni to be on board with them as they make that journey.

PLEASE do what you can to be a part of this incredible experience. Let's show the world what the Crossmen are made of and grasp the hands of our new friends down in Texas in Crossmen UNITY.