Retired accountant realizes lifelong dream of joining LSU’s marching band

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• Geoff Bennett:

  At 66 years old, Kent Broussard has proven it's never too late to chase a dream. Tomorrow, he will be marching on to the field again with Louisiana State University's famed Tiger Band sousaphone in hand.

  Last weekend, he became the oldest member in its history. It's a dream that started decades ago, when Kent was just a boy watching from the sidelines. After retiring from a long career in accounting, he enrolled at LSU as a full-time student with one goal in mind, to finally earn his place in the band.

  Now with his dream realized, Kent's story is striking a chord far beyond Baton Rouge, reminding people everywhere that passion and persistence can rewrite the script at any age.

  I spoke with him earlier this week about his journey, the discipline it requires, and what it feels like to finally march to the beat of his long-held dream.

  Kent Broussard, welcome to the "News Hour."

• Kent Broussard, LSU Student Band Member:

  Thank you for having me. Good to be here.

• Geoff Bennett:

  We should say you graduated already from Southeastern Louisiana with two degrees. You had a full career in accounting. What made you decide at 66 years old that you were going to enroll at LSU and try to join the marching band?

• Kent Broussard:

  You know, it goes back really to really 1968, 1969 when I first started going to LSU games way back in the day. And the sound of the band — obviously, Tiger Stadium is one of the great football stadiums in America from a college perspective. And I loved all the games and have just numerous memories about football games.

  But the sound of the band is what always caught my attention, and had always put in the back of my mind that I wanted to do that somewhere down the line. I always had that plan, even though it really didn't hatch until really about 30 years ago, when I started contemplating retirement.

  And when I started contemplating retirement, I said one of the things I want to do when I retire is just not sit on the sofa and watch Netflix all day or just be sedentary. That's just not me. So I said to myself, I think I'm going to enroll in LSU and try out for the band. And that was 30 years ago.

  So, as you get older, the time starts to go by faster and you start to realize that, hey, retirement is coming. And what I did was, five years ago, in a conversation I had with my family at one of the dinners we had, I told them that my plan was to enroll in LSU and try out for the band.

  At the time, I don't think they thought I was serious. And I was really serious, because I kept talking about it during that dinner. And it came to pass that they realized that I was really serious and really wanted to do this.

• Geoff Bennett:

  I have to tell you, I used to play the tuba in the marching band, and I know that marching information can be tough for 18-year-olds, 19-year-olds. What has been the biggest adjustment physically for you?

• Kent Broussard:

  Well, I will say this.

  Back when I was marching high school and in college, we didn't do much marching. We would basically march out, stop, turn around, play, and then march back. That's not what LSU does. LSU is a true marching band. And so basically, in essence, I have been marching for two weeks. And I'm taking a crash course on marching.

  And the entire section, the section leaders helped me not only from marching perspective, but also musically before I went through this whole process, to get to where I am, showed me how to march LSU-style, and that helped a lot. Every day during the fall semester, we're outside practicing for an hour-and-a-half.

  So I had to be ready for that. And I had to be ready to carry an almost 30-pound sousaphone.

• Geoff Bennett:

  You were in physical training before your audition; is that right?

• Kent Broussard:

  I was. I have been jogging for about 16 years. I have been jogging since I have been 50. So I will put in about 20 to 25 miles a week. Second thing, I needed something from a weight perspective.

  So I bought a weighted vest. The most important thing I did was walk around the neighborhood for about 3.5 to four miles about once every two or three days just to get the weight of what it would feel like on my shoulder for an extended period of time.

• Geoff Bennett:

  What did it feel like the first time you performed in Tiger Stadium and then this past weekend, when you saw yourself on the big screen?

• Kent Broussard:

  It was a combination of really — from 1968, I had always looked from the outside in. It was a lot different looking from the inside out.

  But I will say this. Looking at it, marching down the hill and really concentrating on what I needed to do and the task at hand was most important. And then, when I saw myself on the screen, I'm saying, oh, my God, that's me. And I didn't see myself at least initially.

  And I have a good time in the stands. I'm there to enjoy the music. I'm there to enjoy the band. I'm there to enjoy the football game. And I was just dancing along, and there I am on the screen. And it was a — as I said, it's a bit overwhelming, and I'm just very humbled because of all the attention.

• Geoff Bennett:

  And how has your family reacted to all of this? You mentioned that, when you raised this idea some years ago, they weren't entirely convinced or didn't think that you were entirely serious.

• Kent Broussard:

  Well, yes, I would say this. Not only were they not entirely convinced. They were laughing, right?

  And after I picked them up off the floor and I explained it to them and I kept talking about it, they all said, well, I guess he is serious. So I have had nothing but support from my direct family on all sides, plus indirect family, family friends, everyone, the students at school, administration.

  It's been — like I said, the word I keep using is overwhelming. And the family's 100 percent behind me in this endeavor.

• Geoff Bennett:

  Well, now that you have realized this post-retirement goal, are you in this for the long haul? Are you going to get a degree, or is this day-by-day?

• Kent Broussard:

  Well, actually, you know what? This is the whole day-by-day thing. I already have two degrees from Southeastern. I don't need another degree.

  And we got to see where it goes. I would say this too, one other thing. This is not — this is just not about me. This is about the band. This is about the Color Guard, the Golden Girls, and the band, because without all of us, none of this would be possible for me and none of it would be possible for everyone else.

  That's an important piece of the Golden Band From Tigerland, about what they stand for and the culture that they have over the years. It's one big family. And we all pull each other together.

• Geoff Bennett:

  Kent Broussard, among the newest members of the LSU marching band, thanks again for your time. We appreciate it.

• Kent Broussard:

  Great. Thank you. And good to talk with you.