Chinese Bandits

The name was also used briefly by the Army Cadets football team during Dietzel's coaching tenure at the U.S. Military Academy.

In 1958, LSU head coach Paul Dietzel experimented with different methods of keeping players rested.

[2] Dietzel's plan was to swap players out in a platoon-like fashion in order to keep them rested throughout the game.

However, the defense ended the season ranked first nationally in points allowed, as opposing teams averaged under 4.8 per game.

"[12] The unit had another stand later that season against sixth-ranked Ole Miss, with the Rebels on the Tigers' one-yard line on second down.

The Bandits stopped the Rebels on three straight scoring attempts and turned the ball over on downs, and LSU held on for a 14–0 victory.

[16] Although they were backups, the Chinese Bandits became beloved and respected among the team due to their toughness and relentless style of play.

In 1958, a local restaurant gave away free Asian conical hats with meals and sold over 1,400 of them in a single day.

[2] A photograph by George Silk of the Bandits dressed in their football uniforms and wearing masks that resembled aged Chinese men were featured in the October 12, 1959 issue of LIFE.

[18] They live on today in the "Tiger Bandits" song, played by the LSU marching band after the defense stops an opponent on third down or forces a turnover.

[19] When Dietzel left LSU in 1961 to coach at the U.S. Military Academy, the Chinese Bandits name was carried over to the Army football team.

[20] However, the team dropped the "Chinese" part of the name in 1964 in response to criticism due to international political tensions at the time.