Top 10 behind the scenes moments with the Longhorns

By Eric Ransom

On the field, the Longhorns romped through the regular season like Bevo in a China Shop, outscoring their opponents, 601-185. But even if you caught every second of every game, you missed some of the most choice moments: the tasty stuff that happens outside the lines.

Coach Brown is down with Mickey and Fifty. Photo by AP

So we enlisted our Texas correspondent to give us this season's Top 10 Behind the Scenes moments with the Longhorns, including Mack Brown putting a little hip-hop in his step, Vince Young shaking his money maker, and Texas defenders rescuing fans under a collapsed grandstand.

10) Texas head coach Mack Brown downloaded plenty of hip-hop as part of his "loosening-up" before the season. He maintains that he enjoyed sampling all different types of music and kept a straight face as he stated, "I know Fiddy."

9) In October, with the Astros facing the Cardinals in the NLCS, junior safety Michael Griffin wore an oversized Albert Pujols jersey to the weekly Monday press conference. When asked about the timing of his clothing, Griffin admitted that he didn't know who Pujols was. "I just like the color," he said.

8) Vince Young wasn't exactly the most jubilant guy after the Heisman ceremony, but that didn't stop him from sampling the New York nightlife. Running into Eli Manning at a nightclub, Young's girlfriend accidentally called the Giants signal-caller Peyton.

7) Defensive tackle Rodrique Wright weighs in at 315 pounds and is not known as a sprinter. But the hog-molly probably lost a few pounds after scooping up a Rhett Bomar fumble late in the Red River Shootout. Wright rumbled 67 yards for a touchdown to cap a 45-12 win. When asked why he didn't take a celebratory dive in the end zone, Wright replied, "Because I wouldn't get back up."

6) Mack Brown has a little secret. He's paranoid about being assaulted during post-game celebrations and keeps a Texas Ranger close during games, rarely leaving himself open. But during the post-Texas A&M press conference, Brown saw his 33-year coaching career flash before his eyes when an overly excited Dallas-area media member screamed: "Coach, your defense has been the cat's meow all season. How'd it feel for Stephen McGee and his boys to give you the business?" Brown answered the question, but later admitted he was ready to jump behind the table.

5) Though the BCS has cracked down on celebrities fawning on the sidelines at college football games, Vince Young wants to hold up Texas' share of stars at the Rose Bowl. Actor Matthew McConaughey spoke to the Longhorns before the Big 12 championship, and stood on the sideline in Houston alongside Roger Clemens. "We can get Jay-Z [and] Beyonce on our line. We can get a lot of people on our line," said Young in response to SC's A-List following. The Texas connection with hip-hop's first couple is that Young reportedly took part in Beyonce's sister's wedding.

4) After stripping Ohio State quarterback Justin Zwick in the deciding moments of Texas' win in Columbus, first-year linebacker Drew Kelson showed off his Spanish skills conducting a 10-minute interview in Espanol for Texas' Spanish-language radio network. Kelson picked up the second language while studying abroad in Cuernavaca, Mexico while in high school.

3) Vince's "milkshake" may bring all the boys to the yard, but during a practice leading up to the Big 12 championship, Young shook his "Laffy Taffy" to the D4L song of that name, putting his boys in stitches.

2) Safety Michael Griffin breeds Pit Bulls for fun and profit, and often visits America Kennel Club dog shows in Houston and San Antonio. "Pit Bulls are actually pretty relaxed most of the time," said Griffin. "But they will fight to the death just to please their owner." His two Pit Bulls, Shaq and Honey, are the mainstays in a rotating litter he keeps at the house he shares with fellow safeties Michael Huff and twin brother Marcus Griffin.

1) Fans toppled onto the field when a section of grandstand gave way while the Longhorns celebrated their Big 12 championship at Reliant Stadium in Houston. Defensive tackle Frank Okam and Michael Griffin lifted the section, helping several fans trapped underneath. One fan was treated at a local hospital, but no injuries were reported.