Lion Legend and Lore: The Drum Major Flip by Mark Harrington and Sean Patrick Smith
Perhaps the greatest part of college football is the tradition of the game. From helmet designs and marching formations to crowd chants and mascots, every team has its traditions, which have been passed down from generation to generation and are embraced by players and fans alike. It’s what sets college football apart from the professional ranks and the glue that binds alumni and fans so closely to their teams. Traditions are what make the college game day experience an event that can’t be missed by any true blue fan.
Few schools immerse themselves in tradition like Penn State. After all, this is a team who has not changed their uniform style in the better part of a century. Not many teams are so distinctly identified by uniforms that are so indistinctive in their look.
With all the traditions around Dear Old State, we often get questions from fans asking about the origins of different traditions. For this reason, Lion Legend and Lore, a periodic column, will look at some of Penn State’s traditions more closely to reveal the history behind different aspects of the Nittany Lions’ game day experience.
Flip It Good!
There may not be a college football tradition out there that is thought to have an impact on the game’s outcome like the Blue Band’s legendary drum major flip. For those who have not seen this in action, it is quite a site. During the band’s signature pregame show, the drum major, donning a white hat, just over a foot or so tall, quickly struts down the field through the fanfare block of band. At about center field he breaks into a run, leaves his feet, grabs the back of his thighs, tucks his head and does a full front flip (a.k.a. a ‘Russian flip’), landing back on his feet.
He then jumps into a split and salutes the stands.
If this weren’t enough, he then struts down to the South endzone, near the student section and does a second Russian flip, after which the Nittany Lion mascot brings his mace over and salutes him.
Aside from being a nationally known college football tradition, the PSU event was named to
School Band and Orchestra Magazine’s Momentous Marching Moments list released in August of this year.
A Legend is Born
The flip made its debut at Penn State on ‘Band Day’ in 1971. Most drum majors back then, and even many non-PSU drum majors now, simply twirled their mace (a long ornamental staff) around, tossed it high into the air and caught it as they are led the band down the field. As the story goes, Jeff Robertson, the drum major at the time for Penn State, had a different idea to entertain the crowd. Dissatisfied with his entrance during the previous two home games and lacking confidence in his baton tossing, Jeff decided for the next game to do something he felt he could do: a back flip from a round off.
Jeff felt that tossing the mace in the air was unoriginal and wanted to perform a feat that would not only capture the interest of fans, but would help ignite the excite of the crowd. Jeff decided that a flip would be stunning enough to shock the crowd and give them something to cheer about.

During the next game he strutted to the middle of the field, but instead of stopping to toss the baton, he flipped. Swinging his arms wildly, he kept his footing and the stadium erupted in cheers. Afterward, Dr. James Dunlop, the band director, asked Jeff if he intended on doing that for every game. Having no other option, Jeff answered affirmatively. Dr. Dunlop nodded and then replied, "All right, Jeff. Just don't screw it up."
From this first time he performed the flip it became an instant crowd favorite. When Jeff graduated in 1975, the next drum major failed to follow his lead and did not perform the flip.
This upset the Penn State crowd, who demanded that the flip be brought back. This uproar caused the Blue Band to make the flip a key ingredient to their pregame show. Today, one of the key selection components is the ability for the drum major to perform the legendary flip.
Truth to the Legend?
The legend of the flip goes well beyond its mere fame around college football circles though.
According to Penn State legend it is actually believed that if the drum major lands the flip that the
Penn State football team will win the game. Although there doesn’t seem to be any statistical proof that the flip actually results in a victory for Dear Old State, it is something that is embraced by alumni and fans alike.
Since that fateful game verses Texas Christian in 1971 where the first flip was performed, PSU is
291-94-1 (over 75%). At home and for bowl games they were even better: 180-50-0 (over 78%).
Greg Stock, Drum Major for 5 years, from 1982 to 1986, performed Drum Major duties, including the flip. In thirty-two games out of thirty-six in which Stock delivered successful flips, the team won thirty. The four flips he missed "resulted" in three losses for the Nittany
Lions. Perhaps there is some truth to this legend.
Sean Patrick Smith is a former Blue Band member and co-author of the wonderful book "The
Penn State Blue Band: A Century of Pride and Precision.”