In 1979, despite rumors of how poorly the corps was doing, over 300 potential members turned out for auditions…
Because SCV was defending champion, there were limited openings for new members. The corps powerhouse strength lay in the big drumline which had only three openings. Marching 13 snares they played the same solo from their championship performance the previous year, Hopak and took High Percussion at Finals.
The color guard brought the maypole back to the show again. However, the real topic of conversation among the spectators and judges that year was the “twirling bedposts” the color guard used. Someone remarked that they looked like bedposts; Gail replied they are! He had picked them up in a hardware store.
