Penn State Drum Major

The Blue Band’s drum major is known for his whistle blowing, high-step strutting, mace acrobatics, and his signature move – a running forward flip – that makes many who are watching catch their breath. But the flip hasn’t always been a part of the drum major’s repertoire.

Edwin L. Anderson, drum major and gymnast, practiced a flip for the 1942 season, but unfortunately had to leave school for the fall semester due to appendicitis and did not get to perform the move at a game.

The flip didn’t resurface for nearly 30 years, when, at the start of the 1971-72 season, drum major Jeff Robertson wanted to add something exciting to his routine. Having been a gymnast in high school, Robertson decided to teach himself a back flip, which he practiced in secret for months; he didn’t tell anyone, not even band director James Dunlop. It was especially difficult because he had to jump high enough for his tall hat to clear the ground.

When Robertson performed the flip on Band Day, the crowd was quiet, unsure of what to make of it. Then they went wild. information courtesy Penn State News.

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