The 1958 LSU Tigers segregated football team represented Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...

 during the 1958 college football season

1958 college football season

The 1958 college football season was the first to feature the two point conversion. On January 13, 1958, the 11-man NCAA Rules Committee unanimously approved a resolution to allow teams to choose between kicking an extra point after a touchdown, or running or passing from the 3 yard line for 2...

. Under head coach Paul Dietzel

Paul Dietzel

Paul Dietzel is a former American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head coach at Louisiana State University , the United States Military Academy , and the University of South Carolina , compiling a career record of 109–95–5...

, the Tigers cruised to an undefeated season capped by a win over Clemson

Clemson Tigers football

The Clemson Tigers football team is an American football team from Clemson University in South Carolina. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...

 (another segregated team) in the Sugar Bowl

1959 Sugar Bowl

The 1959 edition to the Sugar Bowl featured the top ranked LSU Tigers, and the 12th ranked Clemson Tigers. This game was one of the classic Sugar Bowl games, as LSU won its first ever national championship....

. LSU was named the national champion

NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship

A college football national championship in the highest level of collegiate play in the United States, currently the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , is a designation awarded annually by various third-party organizations to their selection of the best...

 in both the AP Poll

AP Poll

The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...

 and the Coaches' Poll PRIOR to their 7-0 Sugar Bowl victory over Clemson. It was the first recognized national championship for LSU in the poll era. Iowa (integrated team) was awarded the National Championship trophy by the Football Writers Association of America AFTER winning the Rose Bowl 38-12 against California (another integrated team).

The LSU team was led by Billy Cannon

Billy Cannon

William Abb "Billy" Cannon is an All-American, 1959 Heisman Trophy winner and 2008 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, and one of the American Football League's most celebrated players.He was born in Philadelphia, Mississippi, and moved...

, who won the Heisman Trophy

Heisman Trophy

The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...

 the following season

1959 LSU Tigers football team

The 1959 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University in the 1959 college football season. The Tigers were coached by Paul Dietzel and were the defending national champions.-Pre-season:...

. The team is also remembered for its unique defensive scheme, of which the "Chinese Bandits" were a part.

Schedule

Roster

LSU coach Paul Dietzel split his team into three groups to minimize fatigue. In addition, the roster consisted only of white players as did their opponents. This was common south of the Mason-Dixon line and east of the Mississippi. In 1958, LSU refused to play teams that included non-whites. Most teams above the Mason-Dixon line and west of the Mississippi were integrated.

White Team practice squad consisted of Billy Hendrix, Lynn LeBlanc, Larry Kahlden,Max Fugler,Ed McCreedy, Bo Strange,Mickey Mangham,Warren Rabb,
Billy Cannon,Johnny Robinson,Red Brodnax

Go Team consistend of Scott McClain, Dave McCarty, Al Dampier, Bobby Greenwood, Mike Stupka, Jack Frayer,Don Norwood, Durel Matherne,Don Purvis,Donnie Daye, Tommy Davis

Chinese Bandits consisted of Andy Bourgeois, Carroll Bergeron, Mel Branch, Emile Fournet, John Langan, Tommy Lott, Duane Leopard, Gaynell Kinchen,Darryl Jenkins, Henry Lee Roberts, Hart Bourque, Merle Schexnaildre

Shared National Championship with Iowa

The University of Iowa was awarded the Grantland Rice trophy in 1958 by the Football Wriers Association of America (FWAA). The FWAA judged Iowa to be the 1958 National Champions. However, 1958 was also the first year that the AP and Coaches polls were thought to also determine the National Championship. At best, this is a shared title between Iowa and LSU. At worst, this shows that their were two separate champions. LSU among the segregated south. And IOWA for the integrated north.