by AARON WEYMAN
GoPSUsports.com
| Kevin Rudy made 96% of his flips as Penn State's Drum Major. |
evin Rudy was never in the marching band in high school, an odd revelation about someone who has come to represent one of the greatest marching units in college football. Instead, the senior from nearby Centre Hall suited up as a member of the football, basketball and track and field teams at Penns Valley High School.
The conditioning helped to prepare him physically for the position, but none of those sports teaches how to pull off a running front flip in front of more than 100,000 screaming football fans while wearing an Abe Lincoln-sized hat.
A couple of gymnastics classes later and Penn State has the best flipping Drum Major in the country.
One of the most visually impressive traditions during home football games is the pair of flips attempted by the Blue Band??s leader. As the entire band spills out of the tunnel and onto the Beaver Stadium turf, all eyes remain on one person ?C or hat, to be specific ?C as the top of Rudy??s headgear bounces up and down, ready to charge toward midfield. Nearing mid-field, an anxious hush falls over the crowd as he breaks away from the rest of the band and propels himself into the air. Upon landing, he immediately falls to a split and salutes the fans in the west stands before repeating the routine in the south endzone.
Hard work in practice and the results on game days have helped earn Rudy the nickname ??Mr. Automatic?? from his band mates. In total, he has sucessfully made an outstanding 48 out of 50 flips. The only two he missed happened during the same game, 2005??s contest with Central Michigan. Earlier that week, he led his band mates out on a New York City runway for a Marc Jacobs fashion show, a trip from which the Blue Band did not return to University Park until after 5 A.M.
All Penn State greats are entitled to an off-day, and Rudy is no exception. ??I think my body was just worn out.?? Rudy says, ??It was the third home game in a row, and I had two weeks of band camp before that.??
Rudy??s athletic background helps not only his on-field ability, but also his behind-the-scenes demeanor. ??I think (playing sports) definitely helped in terms of my leadership within the band. It wasn't a problem to speak up if something needed to get done.??
Athletic ability alone does not a Drum Major make: Rudy is also charged with conducting the band from his perch above the south tunnel and plays the trombone in the pep band at sporting events at Rec Hall.
His performance on the field has not gone unnoticed by those who have come before him. Kenny Krott, the Drum Major from 2000-01, says he??s impressed by what he??s seen from Rudy.
??I understand the pressure that comes with the job,?? Krott said, ??From what I??ve seen and heard, Kevin is doing a great job of upholding the tradition.??
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Krott was quick to point out that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to being the man in the big hat.
??A lot of people don??t see everything that is involved with the position, the practices and preparation involved," he says. "The people that I??ve talked with in the Band are very impressed with Kevin.??
After this season, Rudy will be in the stands and - like Krott and many others ?C will be closely watching those who follow in his (high) footsteps. His advice for the next Drum Major is simple: ??Just relax and have fun with the position. It goes by fast, so make sure you enjoy it while you can."
"Hitting those flips can??t hurt, either.??