Longhorns score points with style

AUSTIN - The Longhorns may not be scoring style points, but they are scoring some points with style.

"It's unusual to have a defense that scores like our defense is scoring," head coach Mack Brown said. "It's fun. It's exciting."

Senior defensive end Sergio Kindle said it's good for the defense to put points on the scoreboard.

"What more can you ask for?" Kindle said. "To get a turnover and then to turn it into six or seven points, that could be the difference between a win or a loss."

The Longhorns' defense is tied for second in the nation in forcing turnovers at 26, and thas scored three touchdowns-- two against Oklahoma State.

"Give all the credit to our kids," defensive coordinator Will Muschamp said. "Finishing plays, scoring on defense, creating momentum in the game for our football team, I'm just really proud of their effort and execution and play-making ability."

Sophomore Earl Thomas has six interceptions this year, along with two touchdowns.

"We're taking it from the practice field to the game field," Thomas said. "When you get a chance to make a play for your defense, everybody is excited and they're trying to do their best for you to get into the end zone."

One of the secondary's biggest fans is none other than quarterback Colt McCoy, who gets to practice against the group every day, and says he first recognized Thomas's interception last week because it reminded him of a play he ran at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.

"In the spring game when I threw an interception and Earl returned it for a touchdown, that was the exact same play he made against [Zac Robinson]," McCoy said. "It was almost the same route and everything.

I tackled him in the spring game, by the way."