UGA’s Evans has eye on the prize
Damon Evans marks five years as UGA’s athletics director Wednesday, and the Athens Banner-Herald takes a look at how he’s fared so far, noting that financially he’s been something of a superstar, with the athletic budget growing from $50.2 million to $84.8 million under Evans. Also in his tenure, a $30 million state of the art basketball practice facility was finished and a $40 million expansion of the Butts-Mehre complex is about to begin.
Of course, Evans had a head start on success considering the high level of the program when he took over. As Evans himself says, he inherited from mentor Vince Dooley “something that had an unbelievable foundation from a financial standpoint, from the sports programs. We inherited some veteran, champion coaches that have done great jobs.”
The recent signing of a new $92.8 million eight-year media rights deal with ISP Sports has to rank as Evans’ biggest achievement to date, but UGA having the SEC’s top Academic Progress Report in football perhaps is just as noteworthy, considering the challenges the school has faced in that area in the past.
Evans also gets points (though perhaps not from coach Mark Richt) for his aggressive upgrading UGA’s nonconference football schedule in an effort to build the brand nationally. One indication of progress there is UGA ranking No. 2 or 3 nationally the past two quarters in royalties on merchandise.
But Evans recognizes that managing the expectations of the Bulldogs fan base, particularly in football, requires even more progress. He told the ABH: “We’ve grown to a recognizable program in the country. The next step that we want to take is to be … one of those programs that are mentioned year after year for the national championship, one that’s consistently going to BCS bowl games.”
Elsewhere, promoting assistant Jay Clark, the recruiting power behind the throne in UGA gymnastics, to replace ultra successful Suzanne Yoculan looks like a good move by Evans.
The verdict is still out on is other marquee hire, new basketball coach Mark Fox. While Evans didn’t flinch in pulling the trigger on firing the sinking Dennis Felton midseason, he did let the public relations aspects of his search for a new coach get out of hand, with all sorts of big names being bandied about before he settled on a dark horse candidate in Fox. Evans’ choice may end up being a brilliant one, but it came off as underwhelming after all the hype.
Overall, though, I believe Evans was the right man for the job and so far has lived up to expectations. And I like the way he thinks big.
How do you grade Evans after five years?
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68 comments Add your comment
Chill out about Alabama and Satan...
June 29th, 2009
2:47 pm
…they are 1-1 vs UGA under his tutelege. They were 6-6 his first year, went on a nice run for the first 12 games last year, and ended up 12- 2 (though they beat us badly, at our place – but lost badly on a national stage to a WAC team).
Sure, his recruiting SEEMS to be better, but so far I think the difference there is that we have to more than a little certain the kid will make the grade before offering – we have caught up nicely in the last 2 weeks.
Regarding facilities, theirs are only marginally better than ours in sports other than football. Plus, we have the start of some new stuff for the football team that will be an upgrade, though we still do not have the indoor facility. But you gotta admit, that $25m – $40m building is not really a priority since it is really NEEDED about 10 days a year, fi that many. Stegeman does need upgrading, and it will happen in the next 5 years, IF we can win consistently for 2 years!
david
June 29th, 2009
2:53 pm
he came in during the huge bubble of excess that our country went through. there was money for everything. and we’ve continued to be strong in sports that we were strong in before he took over, tennis, gymnastics, swimming, to name a few. my wallet is getting lighter and i’m sure others are in the same boat, these others periphial sports titles are great, but bottome line, i’m ready for a football title or at least a return to importance in basketball. he had direct impact on the baseketball front so we’ll see how he does there. also, as stated with funds being a likely concern near-term, we’ll see how the university manages its budget for these secondary sports if the flow of money stops. evens gets a B+ so far, but his greatest challanges lie ahead.
BG
June 29th, 2009
2:53 pm
Good job Damon. UGA actually makes their football players go to class. The 1st place academic standing is awesome!
GetReal
June 29th, 2009
2:57 pm
I would give him a “B” a “C” or an “S” since he has none of those, at least with consistency.
Coach D
June 29th, 2009
3:23 pm
I give Damon a B. Damon’s, like Dooley and Adams, can be a bit of a politican, but I think he’s managed the politics well and has more power than people give him credit for. His vision and expections seem high but also reasonable. He came into a tough situation from a PR standpoint with the Dooley vs. Adams pissing contest. The basketball hire will be a true measure on his ability to be able to hire a qualified candidate. But then again Dooley had a few duds( Ron Jirsa, Goff and Donnan) so I don’t think it will sink Evans if Fox doesn’t workout.
jdawg
June 29th, 2009
3:35 pm
Nothing has been done about the stadium except the suites…no credit for loyalty of many years….the bathrooms are the worst in the conference…replaced tailgating with port a pots, and you can go to Arizona and bring in a bottled water sealed…..and in Athens when you purchase one…the caps come off…don’t worry Damon…we have those from home and last week…and just put them on….I guess if you wanted to see who rode the UGA plane you would be shocked….Adams gets to ride along…by the way…two new engines….$1.2 million…oh well…many things good, but sometimes the small stuff is bad…maybe one day I will hit the lottery…
Nuggs
June 29th, 2009
4:12 pm
MAddog-
This year is the first in a long time you could realistically say UGA has a more difficult OOC schedule than UF.
2010 will be no different than most years prior to 2009.
Hey Robert
June 29th, 2009
4:14 pm
A parking deck collapsed near Tech. Is that “funny” too?
jarvis
June 29th, 2009
4:40 pm
No one was hurt in deck collapse, so yes it was funny. Wonder who engineered its design.
PTC DAWG
June 29th, 2009
4:45 pm
UF’s OOC schedule, hard? …that’s a JOKE right?
Maddog
June 29th, 2009
4:48 pm
Nuggs, I was not throwing off on UF’s OOC schedule. Instead, I’m just drawing attention to the fact that UGA has an extremely difficult OOC schedule and it’s not consistent with the rest of the SEC, or the rest of the country for that matter. Do you think Meyer would sit back quietly if the AD was scheduling difficult OOC games? Instead of San Jose State and Florida A&M you travel across the country to play Arizona State and/or Oklahoma State? Just sayin….
TW
June 29th, 2009
4:51 pm
One man stands between Evans and the full recognition he deserves for the outstanding job he has done. That man’s name is Willie Martinez.
A new DC would allow Evans to get his pic on the cover, holding the National Championship trophy.
Nuggs
June 29th, 2009
4:58 pm
I actually would think Meyer would prefer to play a game like @ ASU or Okie State but Foley knows it’s not necessary and that it hurts the overall Athletic Budget. Seeing as NO school in the SEC has an Athletic Program that can compare to what UF has done in the last 25 years, mostly under Foley’s watch, then I would say Foley knows what he is doing with the overall Athletic Program. UF has won 20 of the last 23 SEC All Sports titles AND is the ONLY school in the country to finish in the TOP TEN EVERY year of the National All Sports rankings since they started in 1985.
UGA does have an extremely difficult OOC schedule THIS year. But MOST years FSU is better than Ga. Tech and just as every now and then UGA will travel to Arizona State that isn’t any more difficult than having to play Miami home or away… UGA also plays the San Jose State’s and Florida A&M’s of the world as well.
Fast Eddie
June 29th, 2009
5:06 pm
Rebel Rouser, you apparently don’t like Jeremy Foley as the AD at UF because you referred to him as a jerk. Do you know him personally? It appears to me he is doing a pretty good job at UF. This just completed college year, UFAA was third behind Ohio State and Texas in total athletic department revenue. With four NC’s in the most prominent sports (football and basketball) since 2006, I am inclined to give Foley a good grade.
I had the pleasure of hearing Evans speak to the Columbus QB Club a couple of years ago and he was a very good speaker, i.e., entertaining, provided much information, and spoke correct grammar, a skill many college grads lack. With the financial success of UGA, what’s not to like?
Nuggs
June 29th, 2009
5:10 pm
PTC-
Tell me what year(s) since Mark RIcht has been at UGA that they have had a stronger OOC schedule than Florida?
Gator Growl
June 29th, 2009
6:04 pm
Be assured that if Jeremy Foley likes this guy Damon Evans then he must be a rising star. Foley has a very keen eye for coaching and administrative talent.
SAV Dawg
June 29th, 2009
9:33 pm
Life long dawg fan — watched Damon Evans as a player (not that long ago, really). VERY proud of him as our AD. How can you argue with his results so far? And he handles himself with poise. I feel like we’re in great hands.
shane#1
June 29th, 2009
9:52 pm
Damon deservers at least an A. Look at the amount of money amount UGA has taken in. Hejj, if he makes winner out of the b-ball team he is the best ever! I also like what He and Richt have done with the team academicly. Murray and Burnette, with their 5.0 and higher averages, along with Jones, Strurdivant, and the others! What a suprise, recruit players with As in high school and your APR goes up. Who would have thunk it! BTW, they can play a little football too!