Born April 7, 1969, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Richard James Watters attended Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg, where he played quarterback, wore number twelve, and earned four letters in football. He arrived at the University of Notre Dame in 1987 as a highly touted member of head coach Lou Holtz's second recruiting class. Initially backing up running back Mark Green and occasionally returning kickoffs, Watters helped the Fighting Irish to an 8-4 record and Cotton Bowl appearance. Following the departure of Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown, Holtz moved Watters to flanker for the 1988 season, where he led the team in receiving and returned two punts for touchdowns. Despite being suspended before the annual USC game for disciplinary reasons, Notre Dame won convincingly, and Watters contributed to the Fighting Irish's 34-21 Fiesta Bowl victory over West Virginia to secure the school's eleventh national championship. In 1989, Watters moved back to tailback and finished second o...
