66-Year-Old Freshman Joins LSU’s Golden Band and Proves Dreams Never Expire
Some dreams never age, and Kent Broussard is living proof. At 66 years old, the retired accountant has enrolled as a freshman at Louisiana State University (LSU) to finally live out his lifelong dream — performing with the school’s world-famous marching band.
Broussard became a national sensation after ESPN’s cameras panned to him during LSU’s football victory over Louisiana Tech on September 6. Viewers heard the announcer share his remarkable journey:
“At 66 years young, he went back to school to chase a dream that began in 1968 … to join the Golden Band from Tigerland. He picked up the tuba, practiced, trained — and yes, he enrolled at LSU, auditioned, and made the band.”
Moments later, the broadcast showed Broussard in full purple and gold uniform, standing proudly among his fellow tuba players. The voice continued:
“Nearly six decades later, there he is … a 66-year-old freshman, making his dream come true.”
His story quickly spread beyond the stadium. Associated Press, The Athletic, CBS, and local outlets all picked it up, sharing the same powerful message: you’re never too old to follow your passion.
A Dream Sparked in Childhood
Broussard’s passion for LSU’s band first ignited when he watched them perform as a child. Already musically inclined, he played the sousaphone in high school and at Southeastern Louisiana University, where he graduated in 1980.
Life, however, took him in another direction. He built a successful career in accounting, raised a family, and assumed that his chance to perform with LSU’s legendary band was gone forever. But when retirement came in 2023, Broussard revisited the dream he had shelved decades earlier.
“Life goes by so fast … and I kept thinking about something I always wanted but never got the chance to do,” Broussard told the AP.
Training for the Dream
Once he committed, Broussard prepared both physically and musically. He jogged in a weighted vest, marched through his neighborhood carrying a 30-pound sousaphone, and practiced until his skills returned. After applying and being accepted to LSU, he auditioned — and earned a spot in the Golden Band from Tigerland.
His long-awaited debut came during LSU’s 2025 home opener at Tiger Stadium. Under the stadium lights, with his silver hair and glasses gleaming, Broussard proudly marched as the band performed classics from The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz, and Wicked. At one point, the 102,000-seat stadium erupted with cheers when his face appeared on the jumbo screen, a hometown celebration in Baton Rouge.
A Humble Inspiration
Even with nationwide attention, Broussard remains modest:
“I’m just a 66-year-old guy who loves music,” he said. “I want to be part of something great — because that’s what they are.”
Yet, he understands the message his story carries for others:
“People retire. Dreams don’t.”
Description:
"At 66, retired accountant Kent Broussard enrolled at LSU to join the Golden Band from Tigerland. His inspiring journey shows dreams never expire."