66-year-old proves it's never too late and joins LSU's Tiger Band
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Kent Broussard, the LSU Tiger Band's oldest member in history, watches from the stands during the second half of a game against Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. Photo: Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images
A 66-year-old retiree made history this year as LSU Tiger Band's oldest member, and his story has captured nationwide attention.
Why it matters: Kent Broussard proves it's never too late to try something new.
Catch up quick: Growing up in LaPlace, Broussard marched in the bands for Riverside High School and Southeastern Louisiana University, but he always held a candle for the Golden Band from Tigerland, according to The Advocate.
- After retiring as an accountant with the Sazerac Co. about five years ago, he couldn't stop wondering what if he tried to join Tiger Band.
- So, he did.
How he did it: Broussard got a marching band-ready sousaphone (a.k.a., tuba) and signed up for lessons with the LSU Music Department's Matt Thompson.
- He also started training for the physical toughness of the job by running several times a week, The Advocate reports.
- About a year later, he enrolled at LSU as a non-matriculating student and auditioned for the 2025-2026 band.
He got in.
What they're saying: "There are no breaks when you come here," band director Simon Holoweiko told CBS. "And we follow that process to get the best possible group we can."
The big picture: Now, his story has been covered by national outlets like the the Athletic and ESPN.
The bottom line: "Try it," Broussard told CBS. "The only thing you can do is fail. Your only failure is not trying."