There are plenty of exciting things about Tiger football — not the least of which is the explosive sound of nationally acclaimed Golden Band from Tiger Land.The band will add to its acclaim during Saturday’s halftime show when Tiger Band performs as newly inducted members of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.Mike Shepherd, executive director of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame organization, said this is the first time a collegiate band has been inducted into a hall of fame of any kind.The Hall of Fame decided to make Tiger Band the 45th inductee because of its legacy as a state musical institution and its deep roots in Louisiana history and culture, Shepherd said.”We’re humbled to be put in the same light as all these other great Louisiana musicians,” said Roy King, assistant director of bands. “The band understands they have to keep this tradition of excellence at the same level it once was, and this is another reminder of that.”During the halftime performance, the band will play renditions of Al Johnson’s “Carnival Time,” Robert Parker’s “Barefootin‘” and Jean Knight’s “Mr. Big Stuff.” All of these Louisiana legends were recently inducted into the Hall of Fame themselves.”The rocking music will make a great halftime show,” Shepherd said. “If you’re a Louisiana native and don’t know the songs by name, you’ve certainly heard them before.”Shepherd said the band’s deep Louisiana roots make it a perfect candidate for the Hall of Fame.He cited a connection between former Gov. Huey Long and Castro Cazaro, Tiger Band leader in 1934, as the formative step to making the band the world-class organization it is today.”Huey Long was sharp, and he knew how to take care of his people,” Shepherd said. “You have good music, and that helps to bring people up in hard times.”Long and Cazaro collaborated on a number of compositions including the famous “Touchdown for LSU,” “LSU Cadets March” and “Darling of LSU.”The halftime presentation will mark the band’s inclusion into the hall, but a smaller, official ceremony will be held today at 2 p.m. in the Lod Cook Alumni Center.Seating for the event is limited, but the event is open to the public.Shepherd said the official induction will welcome both the band and the writing team of Long and Cazaro into the new Writer’s Annex of the Hall of Fame.Tiger Band will also try something new this Saturday to make its members more comfortable before and during the game.While the band marching down Victory Hill after playing for the Tiger Athletic Foundation in the PMAC is usually a sign for fans to move into the stadium, it also forced the band to wait hours in the sun for the game to start.This season, the band will march down the hill before playing for the TAF pep rally. The band will take their position following the first show.—–Contact Adam Duvernay at [email protected]