Retired Louisiana accountant Kent Broussard, 66, fulfills lifelong dream of joining LSU marching band

A 66-year-old former accountant wasn’t afraid to march to his own beat.Retiree Kent Broussard enrolled in Louisiana State University and became a freshman this year to fulfill his childhood dream of playing in the school’s iconic marching band.Broussard, a Baton Rouge resident, said he kick-started the idea as he was winding down his career in the corporate world.“I had a conversation with my wife and my family about five years ago [and] I said, ‘What I want to do when I retire is, I want to enroll in LSU and I want to try out for the Tiger band,” according to the university.The lifelong Louisianian, who plays the sousaphone, did not get any special treatment as he inched toward his vision of marching with the prestigious 325-member band, dubbed “The Golden Band from Tigerland.”He successfully applied to LSU and, like every other student, is required to attend classes, study for tests and complete assignments.

“I had to enroll [at LSU],” Broussard said.“I had to go through the whole process, just like everybody does.

Then I had to really plan, ‘How am I going to do the Tiger band?’”Broussard, also a former global executive in the alcoholic beverage industry, needed to get into shape and boost his musical talents, which he admitted were a little rusty.The former beverage boss said he hadn’t touched an instrument for 45 years and spent a year learning how to read sheet music and play the sousaphone from LSU graduate assistant Matthew Thompson.“I practiced every day, sometimes until midnight,” Broussard shared.“I hadn’t played since my 20s, but it started coming back.

And my family, they were 100 percent behind me.”The LSU fan even started running with a weighted fest and carrying his 30-pound sousaphone around his neighborhood.Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.

Please provide a valid email address.By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy ...