The LSU Tiger Band began as a military band in 1893, organized by two students: Wylie M. Barrow and Ruffin G. Pleasant. Pleasant, who later became governor of the state of Louisiana, served as director of the eleven-piece cadet band. (Pleasant was also quarterback of the football team and is credited along with football coach Charles E. Coates with changing LSU’s official school colors from blue and white to purple and gold.) The band averaged thirteen members in its early years. In his written history of the band, former director of bands Frank Wickes describes the band's formative years: