1958 LSU Tigers football team

1958 LSU Tigers football
AP Poll national champions Coaches' Poll national champions Sugar Bowl champions SEC champions
Sugar Bowl vs Clemson, W 7–0
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Ranking
Coaches	#1
AP	#1
1958 record	11–0 (6–0 SEC)
Head coach	Paul Dietzel (4th year)
Defensive coordinator	Charles McClendon
Home stadium	Tiger Stadium

1958 SEC football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
#1 LSU $	6	–	0	–	0			11	–	0	–	0
#4 Auburn	6	–	0	–	1			9	–	0	–	1
#11 Ole Miss	4	–	2	–	0			9	–	2	–	0
Vanderbilt	2	–	1	–	3			5	–	2	–	3
Tennessee	4	–	3	–	0			4	–	6	–	0
Alabama	3	–	4	–	1			5	–	4	–	1
Kentucky	3	–	4	–	1			5	–	4	–	1
#14 Florida	2	–	3	–	1			6	–	4	–	1
Georgia Tech	2	–	3	–	1			5	–	4	–	1
Georgia	2	–	4	–	0			4	–	6	–	0
Tulane	1	–	5	–	0			3	–	7	–	0
Mississippi State	1	–	6	–	0			3	–	6	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1958 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University during the 1958 college football season. Under head coach Paul Dietzel, the Tigers cruised to an undefeated season capped by a win over Clemson in the Sugar Bowl. LSU was named the national champion in both the AP Poll 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.

The LSU team was led by Billy Cannon, who won the Heisman Trophy the following season. The team is also remembered for its unique defensive scheme, of which the "Chinese Bandits" were a part.

Schedule

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 20, 1958	at Rice*		Rice Stadium • Houston, TX		W 26–6	45,000
September 27, 1958	at Alabama	#15	Ladd Memorial Stadium • Mobile, AL (Rivalry)		W 13–3	34,000
October 4, 1958	Hardin–Simmons*	#13	Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA		W 20–6	45,000
October 10, 1958	at Miami (FL)*	#11	Orange Bowl • Miami, FL		W 41–0	40,614
October 18, 1958	Kentucky	#9	Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA		W 32–7	65,000
October 25, 1958	Florida	#3	Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA		W 10–7	62,000
October 31, 1958	#6 Ole Miss	#1	Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA (Magnolia Bowl)		W 14–0	68,000
November 8, 1958	Duke*	#1	Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA		W 50–18	63,000
November 15, 1958	at #20 Mississippi State	#1	Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium • Jackson, MS		W 7–6	N/A
November 22, 1958	at Tulane	#1	Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA (Battle for the Rag)		W 62–0	83,221
January 1, 1959	vs. #12 Clemson*	#1	Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA (Sugar Bowl)	NBC	W 7–0	80,331
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game.

Roster

LSU coach Paul Dietzel split his team into three groups to minimize fatigue.

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

Go Team or Gold Team consisted 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, Ed Cassidy, Emile Fournet, John Langan, Tommy Lott, Duane Leopard, Gaynell Kinchen,Darryl Jenkins, Henry Lee Roberts, Hart Bourque, Merle Schexnaildre

Others of the Squad consisted of Fred Blankenship, Jim Bond, Ed Charbonnet, Fred Davidson, Joe Dosher, John Dunham, Gerald Frey, Jimmy Gibbons, Herb Lacassagne, Ken McMichael, Tom Neck, George O'neal, Al Ott, Mickey Pannebaker, David Parish, Bob Richards, Gus Riess, Charles Tarter, Elton Upshaw, Ken Wittman

No.	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Hometown	High School
10	Darryl Jenkins	Quarterback	6-1	163	Franklinton, LA	-
11	Elton Upshaw	Quarterback	6-1	185	Monroe, LA	-
12	Warren Rabb	Quarterback	6-0	190	Baton Rouge, LA	Baton Rouge High School
14	Edgar Charbonnet	Quarterback	5-10	170	Ponchatoula, LA	-
16	Durel Matherne	Quarterback	5-11	188	Lutcher, LA	-
20	Billy Cannon	Defensive Back, Left Halfback	6-1	204	Baton Rouge, LA	Istrouma High School
21	Tommy Neck	Left Halfback	5-11	180	Marksville, LA	Marksville High School
22	Hart Bourque	Right Halfback	5-8	165	Gonzales, LA	-
23	Don Purvis	Left Halfback	5-7	160	Crystal Springs, MS	-
24	Ken McMichael	Right Halfback	5-11	195	Minden, LA	-
30	Frank Pannebaker	Fullback	5-10	205	Mifflintown, PA	-
31	Al Ott	Right Halfback	5-9	165	Gretna, LA	-
32	Henry Lee Roberts	Left Halfback	6-0	172	North Little Rock, AR	-
33	Donnie Daye	Right Halfback	5-10	184	Ferriday, LA	-
34	Johnny Robinson	Right Halfback	6-0	185	Baton Rouge, LA	University High School
40	J. W. "Red" Brodnax	Fullback	6-0	203	Bastrop, LA	Bastrop High School
41	Charles Tarter	Fullback	6-3	218	Birmingham, AL	-
43	Merle Schexnaildre	Fullback	5-9	182	Houma, LA	Terrebonne High School
44	Tommy Davis	Kicker, Fullback	6-0	205	Shreveport, LA	Fair Park High School
50	Bobby Greenwood	Center	5-10	195	Lake Charles, LA	-
51	Max Fugler	Center	6-1	203	Ferriday, LA	-
52	Ken Wittman	Center	5-11	190	Pass Christian, MS	-
53	John Langan	Center	6-0	183	Carbondale, IL	-
54	John Dunham	Center	6-4	215	Shreveport, LA	-
55	George O'Neal	Center	6-1	195	Baton Rouge, LA	-
60	Freddie Davidson	Right Guard	6-1	190	New Iberia, LA	-
61	Tommy Lott	Right Guard	5-9	188	Texarkana, AR	-
62	Manson Nelson	Right Guard	5-9	185	Ferriday, LA	-
63	Al Dampier	Left Guard	6-1	201	Clayton, LA	-
64	Larry Kahlden	Left Guard	6-1	210	Weimar, TX	-
65	Emile Fournet	Left Guard	5-11	195	Bogalusa, LA	-
66	Mike Stupka	Right Guard	6-0	205	Bogalusa, LA	-
67	Ed McCreedy	Right Guard	6-1	195	Biloxi, MS	Biloxi High School
68	Herb Lacassagne	Left Guard	6-2	215	New Orleans, LA	-
69	GeraLd Frey	Right Guard	5-11	200	Iota, LA	-
70	Lynn Leblanc	Left Tackle	6-2	201	Crowley, LA	-
71	Duane Leopard	Right Tackle	6-2	205	Baton Rouge, LA	-
72	Charles "Bo" Strange	Right Tackle	6-1	202	Baton Rouge, LA	-
73	Jack Frayer	Right Tackle	6-2	210	Toldeo, OH	-
74	Dave McCarty	Left Tackle	6-2	200	Rayville, LA	Rayville High School
75	Mel Branch	Left Tackle	6-1	210	DeRidder, LA	DeRidder High School
76	Bobby Richards	Left Tackle	6-2	210	Oak Ridge, TN	-
77	Carroll Bergeron	Right Tackle	6-0	215	Houma, LA	-
78	Joe Dosher	Right Tackle	6-4	215	Jena, LA	-
79	Gus Riess	Left Tackle	6-0	215	New Orleans, LA	-
80	Andy Bourgeois	Left End	5-10	174	New Orleans, LA	St. Aloysius High School
81	Gaynell Kinchen	Right End	6-3	196	Baton Rouge, LA	-
82	Don Norwood	Right End	6-3	202	Baton Rouge, LA	-
83	Scotty McClain	Left End	6-2	180	Smackover, AR	-
84	Jimmy Bond	Left End	6-1	190	Bogalusa, LA	-
85	Billy Hendrix	Left End	6-0	185	Rayville, LA	-
86	Mickey Mangham	Right End	6-1	192	Kensington, MD	-
87	Jimmy Givens	Left End	6-1	185	Bogalusa, LA	-
88	David Parish	Right End	6-3	200	Hammond, LA	-
89	Fred Blankenship	Right End	6-4	199	North Little Rock, AR	-

Roster from Fanbase.com and LSU: The Louisiana Tigers

Shared National Championship with Iowa

The University of Iowa was awarded the Grantland Rice trophy in 1958 by the relatively new Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) after finishing 8-1-1. The FWAA judged Iowa to be the 1958 National Champions. Both the AP and UPI (Coaches) polls named undefeated LSU the 1958 National Champions. Out of 16 total selectors in 1958, LSU won 15, including the AP and UPI, while Iowa won 1. The AP/UPI voting took place before the bowl games were played. Iowa's victory in the Rose Bowl was deemed to be more impressive by the FWAA. At the end of the season, LSU had beaten two teams ranked in the final AP voting (#11 Ole Miss and #14 Florida), and Iowa had beaten three ranked teams (#7 Wisconsin, #10 TCU and #17 Notre Dame), with a loss to #8 Ohio State and a tie with #6 Air Force. Both LSU and Iowa defeated an additional ranked team in their respective bowl games (LSU defeated #12 Clemson and Iowa defeated #16 California). This contributed to the controversy regarding which team deserved the national championship.