He took over the helm in 2004 and led the team to a win in the Las Vegas Bowl over UCLA by a score of 24 to 21, helping the Cowboys to their first bowl victory in 38 years.
After redshirting his freshman year, he started three games, and played in the Las Vegas Bowl, where the Mountain West Conference (MWC) champion Utes beat Fresno State 17-16.
Watkins ended his college career with a strong showing against California in the Las Vegas Bowl: 5 catches for 93 yards and late fourth-quarter touchdown in BYU’s 35-28 loss.
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Possibly in a show of how weak the conference was, Nevada went 5-1 in conference, winning the Big West championship and representing the conference in the 1992 Las Vegas Bowl (formerly the California Bowl held in Fresno, California).
The Bruins did reach the Las Vegas Bowl, but interim coach Ed Kezirian coached—and won—his only game in charge of the program.