HOUSTON — Beyoncé's show during halftime of the Texans' game against the Ravens on Christmas captivated millions but many might not know who was next to her throughout the performance. Texas Southern University students, 197 of them to be exact, took part in the opportunity of a lifetime. It's an experience they will never forget. Although the Texans lost , fans were still able to witness an epic performance. RELATED: Beyoncé dazzles hometown with debut of "Cowboy Carter" at Texans-Ravens halftime show Alongside Beyoncé was the TSU marching band -- known as the Ocean of Soul -- as well as dancers and twirlers from the university. The students got the call to take part in the show in November. When administrators told them about it, they were in disbelief. "For a second they thought we were lying because it was kind of silent. ... Once they heard what everyone else heard, the room went crazy," TSU Head Band Director Brian Simmons said. Simmons said they practiced for weeks and the students took it upon themselves to not only study the music but everything about Beyoncé to perform at their highest capabilities. This 13-minute-long performance was the live debut of several "Cowboy Carter" tracks. RELATED: Beyoncé's performance highlighted Netflix's NFL debut on Christmas Day They worked with professional choreographers to make it come to life and were grateful to have the opportunity to showcase their talents on such a big stage. Overall, they were proud of how they performed and are looking forward to their next big show -- Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
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