First Person View From the LSU Marching Band Drum Line

The LSU Tiger Marching Band, or the Golden Band from Tigerland is made up of 325 talented musicians that perform for LSU football home games, some away games, and all bowl games. It began in 1893 as a military band formed by only two students. One of those students, Ruffin G. Pleasant, later became governor of Louisiana and is also partly responsible for changing the school's official colors from the original blue and white to the famous purple and gold. During its early years, the band maintained an average membership of just 13.

When Huey P. Long became governor, he became infatuated with the band. It was Long that demanded the now 28 member band be increased to 125. All for the simple reason that he wanted Louisiana to have the largest band in the country. Long got so involved with the band that he not only had the uniforms of the band replaced to be "showier", but co-wrote some of the songs. Touchdown for LSU, Darling of LSU, and The LSU Cadets March were all co-written by Long and band director Castro Carazo. Long also hand picked Carazo to lead the band. At the time, Carazo was the orchestra leader of the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans.

After Long was assassinated, the band reverted back to its military uniforms and lots of Long's changes were reversed. Mostly as a backlash from the various scandals associated with Long and him having total dictatorship over the college.

As the years went on, the band was molded and transformed into what we see today. The band is rooted heavily in tradition and their fan base spreads across the entire nation. This video posted by one of the members shows a first person view of the band's pregame performance. This performance has been around for over 70 years, and it's not going anywhere any time soon.