LSU’s 66-year-old band member inspires with dream comeback

Al Formicola

LSU’s 66-year-old band member inspires with dream comeback image

Retired accountant makes history with LSU’s Golden Band from Tigerland

At Tiger Stadium, where the roar of the crowd meets the pulse of the band, one figure stands out, not for his youth, but for his courage. At 66 years old, Baton Rouge native Kent Broussard isn’t just keeping up with LSU’s Golden Band from Tigerland, he’s living a dream that started when he was a child.

For decades, Broussard thought the chance had passed him by. He chose a career in accounting, raised a family, and left the tuba behind. But in retirement, he decided to try once more. He retrained from scratch, tackling a grueling audition process with students young enough to be his grandchildren.

Band director Simon Holoweiko made it clear: no special treatment. Broussard earned his spot the same way everyone else did. Against all odds, he became the band’s oldest member by 41 years.

His first performance came when LSU hosted Louisiana Tech. For Broussard, standing on that field wasn’t just about music, it was proof that age is no barrier to passion.

As he put it: “The only thing you can do is fail. Your only failure is not trying.”

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Al Formicola

Al Formicola is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He has over 20 years of television production experience as a writer and producer. He has previously written for Athlon Sports.