My Pregame Speech for the National Championship!

We have the Nationals today. I am so excited for all of us. It’s our first time at the Nationals at MetLife Stadium and I cannot wait for the day to start! Today I really want to just reiterate that you should keep it all in perspective.  Today we have 10 people making a decision, putting a number on the bands in our class and ranking them.  What they really should do is bring the 10 judges down in front and say in the opinion of these 10 judges today here are your scores.  I know it may sound cliche, but there is really no ultimate champion. Anyone in the entire activity, in any band, is a champion.

Don’t get me wrong, sometimes we are caught up in this too, the numbers, the placement, as if it really means something.  Remember that the reason we compete is to push ourselves and we are all better because we compete.  

Remember, your work means a heck of a lot more than 9th place, 3rd place, 1st or 8th.

We are an art form incorporating drill (which is art work) music, dance, and flag/dance together in a broadway show type production on a huge canvas.  Now think about it. Trying to judge an activity that ultimately cannot be judged, anything in the arts, dance, art at any museum, a movie, a rock concert, is kind of silly. We are an art form, remember that.  Even 5 of us looking at any of these art forms may get 5 different opinions and if we had to put a number on each performance what would that really mean?  Just keep it all in perspective.

The proudest thing about directing you in Roslyn is your hard work, your compassion for each other, your love of life, and your perspective on life. I love all of you for being such great people. Lets have a great day today at the Nationals.