I'm not fan of ranking marching bands, how do you determine who the 10th best band is vs who is the 11th best band? It takes away from the spirit of what a band is when you try to define a specific pecking order.

If anything I think you could get away with putting bands into broad categories- poor, average, good, great, elite. Or something like that.

Trying to determine which band is better between a Show style band (Ohio) and Corps style band (UMass) is a futile effort. It really comes down to personal preference. I don't follow marching bands as closely as I used to but there was a time when UMass and North Texas were know for having 2 of the best marching bands, and overall music departments, in the country and I think that probably is still true today.

I don't think the person that put together the countdown spent a lot of time finding video clips that best represent the bands, an uninspired exhibition at a high school band competition probably isn't the best look at UMass, here's a clip from their performance at Michigan a couple of years ago that gives a better look at what they can do.

Link.

Agreed. He's probably a UMASS guy anyway. But, it's always fun to see other bands and how they compare. I'm from Milwaukee, WI so I've traveled to Northern Illinois a couple of times and thing they are not very good. Whenever a band plays with notes on their horns (as the 110 might say, "It ain't been good") they seem to lose credibility. I remember cheering on the 110 and their fans were hostile towards me and my friends. I still hate them. Go 110!!!!  

its not an uncommon thing to do and with only a 5 minute window this is likely the 2nd half of their show so they're starting in the middle.

Isn't amateur hour when you start EVERY show in a block formation? just saying.

I don't buy that at all.  That vid shows their band just running out..well, walking out...randomly.  Starting from a line-up formation on the sideline as the 110 does takes no particular time.  And it starts the performance in an organized way from the sideline instead of some random walk out thing that a bunch of elementary kids could do.

UMass band is good.

But they ain't O H I O.

This is a.....wait for it......pretentious comment.

You gave 110% there--though I won't know for sure until I see the replay.  I wish the UMass band well in its future endeavors.  I'm just takin' 'em one post at a time.