Dec. 9, 2010
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By John Denton
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Everything that Brian Watters wanted out of his college football career - conference championship rings, bowl trips and a prominent wide receiver role - have come to fruition at UCF. It's just that while growing up he always thought that path would wind through the University of Georgia.
Life has a funny way sometimes of throwing detours, and looking back Watters said he wouldn't change a thing about the course he's taken to get to this point.
``When I was growing up I wanted to be a Georgia Bulldog, but I'm a UCF Knight now and that's a great feeling to me,'' said Watters, a native of Rome, Ga. ``I was recruited by them some, but I guess I wasn't what they were looking for in the end. Everything has really worked out for me. And to have two conference championship rings, I'm so glad I'm here and not at Georgia.''
Watters will close his college career on Dec. 31 with a dream scenario when UCF (10-3) faces Georgia (6-6) in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn. The senior wide out is one of 17 UCF players who hail from Georgia, the second-most Knights from a particular state behind Florida.
UCF, which is off until Dec. 14 while players take final exams, heads into postseason game looking for the first bowl victory in school history. The Knights lost in the Hawaii Bowl in 2005, fell in the Liberty Bowl in 2007 and faltered last season in the St. Pete Bowl.
But this has been a season of several firsts for the Knights what with the first-ever national ranking in both the national polls and the BCS rankings. The Knights also tied a school record for wins (10) and set the UCF mark for road victories (five).
And now, after winning the program's second Conference USA championship in four seasons, the Knights' next mission is to attain the first bowl victory in school history. And if they have to go through traditional Southeastern Conference power Georgia so be it, Watters said.
``Right now we're clicking on all cylinders and playing with so much confidence after the conference championship game,'' Watters said. ``Getting the chance to compete against a SEC team it a great opportunity for us. We feel like we can play with anybody in the country, so now we just need to go and get the job done.''
Watters certainly got the job done for the Knights this season, bouncing back from a debilitating toe injury last season to become UCF's leading receiver this season. He led the Knights in catches (41) and was second in receiving yardage (594) while catching two touchdown passes. He and best friend/roommate Jamar Newsome (34 catches, 597 yards and three TDs) were a big part of helping UCF's wide receiving corps become the team's deepest position.
But the senior's biggest contributions might have come off the field with his mature approach and firm leadership approach. UCF assistant head coach/wide receivers coach David Kelly said that this wide out group, one that also included senior Kamar Aiken, junior A.J. Guyton and other promising youngsters, was among the best he's ever coached - primarily because of the likes of Watters.
``Brian Watters does a lot of things well, but there's not a better leader on this team than him,'' Kelly gushed. ``People ask me why he's had such a good season, but they forget he was hurt most of last season. What he's doing now is something we've seen in practice all along and he's fully healthy. He's just so steady with everything that he does.''
Watters, who has already earned his bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and is working on his Masters, takes his role as one of UCF's leaders seriously. He takes pride in doing things the right way and being a consistent factor that the Knights could depend upon.
``I just lead by actions. I'm not a flashy guy or a big name on this team, but I think a lot of players respect me from the standpoint of getting the job done when my team needs me,'' he said. ``Off the field, I try to be a leader and an encourager. I want to be a teacher and give out the experience that I have to the younger guys going through it for the first time.''
Facing Georgia, the childhood favorite, will be a first for Watters. He can't think of a better way to end his college career than beating the team that passed him over and ultimately sent him on the path to UCF.
``It's something that I always wanted to do. Being my last year and getting to play against the team so close to my home, it's an amazing feeling,'' Watters said. ``It does motivate you (being unwanted by Georgia). It was like my home team and once they didn't come after me and weren't interested it gave me the fuel for my career. And now to get a chance to actually play them, it's an amazing way to finish my college career.''
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John Denton's Knights Insider appears on UCFAthletics.com several times a week. E-mail John at jdenton@athletics.ucf.edu.