Each person who auditioned for drum major had different strengths and weaknesses, said Laura Olson, a junior and flute section leader last year. She voted for Marshall because he was a good communicator and conductor.

“I know he definitely has the ability to teach and lead,” she said.

His strut didn’t hurt him, though.

“I liked his strut,” she said. “His strut was obviously important.”

Even though it’s not the only aspect of the job, Marshall said, the strut is still a big part of the drum major job because it gets the crowd excited.

“The most important thing is being keyed into the football games and being a real good spirit team for the (football) team,” he said.

The strut is unique to Pride drum majors. Marshall said only a few other universities have anything remotely like it. The emblem for the Pride even features a drum major mid-strut. The knowledge of the move is passed down from drum major to drum major.

“There’s no rule book about it or anything,” Marshall said. Aaron taught the drum major candidates how to do it at auditions.

“It’s very intensive in terms of just the (physical) demands of the strut,” Aaron said.

The move takes “lots of stretching,” Marshall said. The idea is to get as low to the ground as possible so that he doesn’t have to bend his back as far. He said he had to build up his torso and thigh strength to do it. He also has to wear special shoes, otherwise the tops will get torn up by dragging on the ground behind him.

Each drum major spends lots of time perfecting the strut, because most fans don’t see all the hard work that goes into the drum major position, Aaron said. They see only the strut.

“That’s the way most people remember us (drum majors),” Aaron said. “… If you were to judge me on one thing, that would be the strut.”

Julianna Parker

366-3541

jparker@normantranscript.com