Earning a 1 as a 1A band is exactly as difficult as earning a 1 as an inner city show style band - and none of THOSE schools get an automatic trip to the SMC for earning a 1. They get to go to area and place dead last against the big spending suburbs.

There's no SWAC/MEAC show style state marching contest. Why not? There's one for military marching after all - and your only qualification there is to make a 1 at Region.

Again - this seems like it isn't about the kids, it's about directors wanting to say they made SMC.