As a tip of the hat to the success of the current LSU football squad, OffBeat takes pleasure in recalling a killer New Orleans R&B tribute to the Fightin’ Tigers team from 1958. Considered now a most politically incorrect song title, “Chinese Bandits,” by the Cheerleaders, was a favorite on local radio for months.

“The Cheerleaders”—Huey Piano Smith, Frankie Ford, Jerry Byrne and Mac Rebennack—only existed on 45 r.p.m. The inspiration for the title came from Paul Dietzel, the ...