Evans says he’s sorry, but UGA should say, ‘See you later’
Damon Evans says he's sorry. Mrs. Evans (center) looks on. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Athens — Damon Evans is a lucky man. At least for the moment, he still has his job. Were I the president of the University of Georgia, Evans would be out of work.
The Bulldogs’ athletics director met the press here 12 1/2 hours after he left an Atlanta jail. He spoke without notes and with great conviction. “I’m very ashamed and embarrassed by my actions,” Evans said. “I let this university down; I let my family down, and I let so many people down who have supported me along the way.”
Not to be a raging skeptic, but contrition costs nothing. At such a time, contrition is the kneejerk response. What was noteworthy about Evans’ mea culpa was what he didn’t offer.
He didn’t offer to resign.
That gesture would have carried more weight than all his stated remorse. That gesture would have been the right one to make. And it would have been only right for president Michael Adams, who risked what political capital he had left when he anointed Evans to replace Vince Dooley in 2004, to accept the offer.
There’s a difference between losing a ballgame and forfeiting credibility. The images that will chase Evans forever are the video spot he did advising Sanford Stadium patrons not to drink and drive — if you do, Evans said, “”you lose” — and the regrettable mug shot that has already become all the Internet rage. How, if you’re an institution of higher learning, can you square the two?
And how, if you’re the flagship university in a state where an intern in the governor’s office was killed last month by an allegedly drunk driver, can you fail to send the message that there are more important things than ballgames? Evans has done a fine job as AD, but that’s no longer the issue. At issue is that a man heading a department that is charged with educating young men and women has become an issue unto himself.
Said Evans: “My actions have put a black cloud over our storied program,” and there is, sorry to say, only one way to change that. Georgia needs to fire Evans because he has breached the first commandment of leadership. He has failed to practice what he preached.
Evans again: “I think, ‘You’ve got to be the leader you talk about being; you’ve got to be the role model’ … It’s going to take a while to earn trust back, and it should.”
The sad truth is that we can never look on Damon Evans the same again. His teams could win every national championship known to man and woman, and we’d still think of him as the guy with his eyes closed in his booking photo. This isn’t to suggest he’s guilty of a crime — he’s entitled to the presumption of innocence, same as everyone — but clearly he was deficient in judgment.
He was stopped by police driving a car in erratic fashion late at night an hour and a half from home with a woman (who was herself arrested) who wasn’t his wife. “Just a friend,” Evans said of Courtney Fuhrmann. Seated to his right as he spoke was Kerri Evans, his wife and the mother of his two children.
“I have some shortcomings,” Evans said. “That’s part of life.” And it is. None among us is perfect. But not everyone is hired to lead young men and women and paid a half-million dollars to do it.
Loading ...Evans made it clear he wants to stay as AD but conceded: “I don’t know what is coming my way.” And Adams, who was out of town Thursday, released a statement after Evans spoke. Two lines resonated.
The first: “Certainly this is not an example of the kind of leadership I expect our senior administrators to set.”
The second: “[I] will resolve further action pending a full review by staff and legal counsel.”
The most difficult day of Damon Evans’ life ended with him still employed. That might not be the case much longer. And it shouldn’t be.
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1,034 comments Add your comment
willie martinez
July 1st, 2010
10:47 pm
all damon was was a lacky tossed at dooley for adams firing him.
Steve
July 1st, 2010
10:47 pm
I assume no one calling for his resignation has ever driven while being over the limit? Seems a little harsh to lose your job over what appears to be his first DUI. I was expecting a bit more sympathy but, as an LSU fan, I may have a higher tolerance for partying leaders than a state that still won’t sell alcohol during certain hours of a certain day. I won’t even mention the racial undertones of all of this. Glad to see UGA distracted by what I think is a one day news story.
R Pitts
July 1st, 2010
10:47 pm
Mark: You are ridiculous. Actually, your opinion is asinine in this instance. I’m a huge Gator fan, and I think it would be ridiculous to make the man resign for one mistake. He has no prior blemishes on his record. He has done a fine job for UGA. Have we gotten to the point in this society that when a person makes one mistake that this person, who has otherwise been clean, gets kicked to the curb? Jesus, the man is human. Was he wrong? Yes. Should he be punished? Yes, he should forfeit the big raise that kicked in today. If he does it again, should he then be fired? Absolutely. But should any person be canned for a mistake like this? No. You act as if he raped, committed robbery, etc. Make the punishment fit the crime; firing is not warranted here.
Herschel Talker
July 1st, 2010
10:47 pm
It is a disgrace that this man still has a job at our beloved university. This man is not fit to mold young men or fit to run a high-profile athletic program. This man should go to hell.
DILLIIGAF
July 1st, 2010
10:47 pm
Pete:
Regarding your 10:20 and 10:38 posts….yeah, you’re not a racist.
Mike45
July 1st, 2010
10:48 pm
Some of you people taking about affirmative action sucks are just complete a$$holes this shouldn’t have anything to do about affirmative action or the color of his skin some of you are just stupid and ignorant just like you sound you should be ashamed of yourselves.
Mr Charlie
July 1st, 2010
10:48 pm
All I have to say it BBBBWWWWAAAAAHHHHHHHAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Brett
July 1st, 2010
10:48 pm
I love some of the comments on here. Its just amazing how some people think.
You know, when my little daughter apologizes to me or my wife for throwing tantrums or being mean, we forgive her. But the punishment, corrective action, discipline, etc. doesn’t go away. The crime still gets the time.
Also, this involves an individual who is in a position where part of its responsibility is to model the way; set the example. How does a school model its own judicial system by not using the example? No one should be above.
As for his future employment, while I would not wish unemployment on anyone right now, I believe its what has to be done. I work for a major logistics company that utilizes a Contractor model. If one of our Contractors/Drivers gets charged with a DUI, there is unfortunately no discussion…that individual is no longer allowed to work with our company. Its nothing personal…its strickly business. It goes against the image we strive to achieve. I believe that is what Dr. Adams has to consider…what image will this portray?
Pete
July 1st, 2010
10:49 pm
DILLIIGAF, yes because racist usually marry women of another race. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen KKK members with other races.
outsider
July 1st, 2010
10:49 pm
Mike Oxbig, you are an idiot. He could have killed an innocent driver. What are you smoking tonight? Blowing this off as a joke is insane.
Bryant
July 1st, 2010
10:49 pm
UGA pushed out a legend to give Evans the job. Way to go Adams. What an embarrassment to our school!
myra
July 1st, 2010
10:49 pm
Mark you got it right. It is astonishing evans is still employed and that he didnt not offer his resignation.
The ultimate in hipocrisy.
Pryncess
July 1st, 2010
10:50 pm
Damon Evans is yet another example of the failure of Affirmative Action, the practice of placing undisciplined, unqualified and unethical simpletons in high-profile and high-paying positions far beyond their ability to fully comprehend, and how it detracts from the betterment of our society instead of augmenting it. Thank you that. You are of course entirely correct. In a word, affirmative action sucks.
——————-
Yet, it’s funny that majority of high profile DUI cases involve a caucasian. Yep…this proves that aa sucks. :-l
Mr Charlie
July 1st, 2010
10:50 pm
Iet me be clear:
BBBBBBBBBBBBBWWWWWWWWWWWWHAHAHAAAAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHA
uga alumnus
July 1st, 2010
10:50 pm
you’re damn right i’m angry!
i’m a uga alumnus, who has given thousands of my hard earned dollars to the athletics department to see that nitwit evans get bought out of a sexual harrasment suit and now this.
outsider
July 1st, 2010
10:51 pm
Mike Oxbig, what if he had killed someone in a accident? Would it still be a big joke to you? What are you smoking?
NOBama 2012
July 1st, 2010
10:52 pm
i betcha his wife is more po’d he was with a white girl.
1980 was so long ago
July 1st, 2010
10:52 pm
Another pre-football season arrest out of the uga athletic department. It just keeps coming in waves – now from the top.
1980 glory was so long ago – oh wait, that team was exposed by Jan Kemp and the infamous magazine article “What Price Victory” – seems like maybe that wasn’t so long ago as standards at uga may not have changed – let’s keep the AD and slander Bobby Cox..
Ah, but 1980 really was 4 decades ago.
Damon Evans
July 1st, 2010
10:52 pm
I’m thinking of opening a liquor store in Athens.
Mr Charlie
July 1st, 2010
10:52 pm
Pryncess. Show me one person who recorded a video of a white person compainging against driving drunk who got a DUI, and kept their job.
Observer
July 1st, 2010
10:52 pm
Good to see JIMBOW representing UGA.
Damen can be the face of UGA athletics,
JIMBOW can be the spokesman.
outsider
July 1st, 2010
10:53 pm
Stupid you are stupid, leave the N word out of this. It’s not appropriate in any subject regardless of your feelings.
charles
July 1st, 2010
10:54 pm
I think Damon has done an excellent job as AD….buy he will never be looked upon the same, he must go!
Pete
July 1st, 2010
10:54 pm
pissonadawg. Blacks only make up about 12% of all college students. At UGA I think they are 7 or 8%. WHile I will agree 100% that there needs to be more, I just don’t think you can say it is race without looking at how many apply and have the grades. Should they allow a black student in that has worse test scores than a white student?
Buckeyeboy52
July 1st, 2010
10:54 pm
Any time a black guy gets put into a leadership job with no qualifications, they spend the jist of their time wanting everyone else seeing them. “Look how important I am. I’m da man. I’m da boss.” From the President, to this clown, to the many more Affirmative Action Hires that happen everyday. It pisses me off to no end to see a unqualified black picked over a qualified white because the company is staring down the bayonet spear of the U.S. Government that dictated they must hire these idiots in order to keep certain fundings.
And oh yeah. If this pisses you off. I am sorry. That is what this idiot said. Let’s see if it works for him.
Mr Charlie
July 1st, 2010
10:55 pm
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAAHHAHHAHHAHHHAHAHHA
Stupid
July 1st, 2010
10:55 pm
Stick it outsider. You know I’m right.
Parking Dawg
July 1st, 2010
10:56 pm
Wow! there are certainly no lack of opinions here. During his time, I have to agree with those who have pointed to Damon’s successes in taking a program such as Georgia’s and continue to build it. An honest person of minimal moral character can’t deny that being in the company of a young woman, not his wife, only adds to the unsavory perception even if she is just a friend.
Damon’s race isn’t the issue here, his credibility as the AD of one of the most respected athletic programs in the country is the point here. He isn’t the AD in a vacumn, and unfortunately the blowback of his personal life impacts the university. He is a public figure and as such his actions affect not only his personal reputation, but the reputation of UGA as well. I won’t join the chorus calling for his job. However, I believe it is inevitable that he will ultimately resign after this is “investigated.” If the financial supporters of the Athletic program vote with their dollars that they feel it best that Damon leave, then Damon will likely be “encouraged” to resign.
Gator On The Loose
July 1st, 2010
10:56 pm
Glory! Glory!
Mike Oxbig
July 1st, 2010
10:56 pm
outsider- which post do you want me to reply to, your first one or your second one
Damon Evans
July 1st, 2010
10:56 pm
Come out to Damon’s bar
you’ll see the neon from afar
you’ll have a great time
on a bit more than a dime
just dont leave in your own car
DILLIIGAF
July 1st, 2010
10:56 pm
Pete:
“I cannot tell you how many times I have seen KKK members with other races.”
I’m sure that you have, probably as property within you local order.
When I say ” yeah, you’re not a racist.”, that’s not meant as an oxyMORON.
The Jete
July 1st, 2010
10:57 pm
Nothing like following up an apology for DUI then coming right back with a lie about the girl. Nice…
Ryan
July 1st, 2010
10:57 pm
Sadly we live in a world today where one’s every action is fair game for a media circus and today that is enough to discredit a life’s work. A DUI or infidelity has NO baring on how well one performs as an athletic director, a doctor, a mailman, or countless other professions. It is what you do while you are on the job that matters. Under Damon Evans direction the University of Georgia has won several national championships, have countless scholar athletes and brings millions of dollars to the university. DUI does not equal unqualified individual, it does equal bad judgment OFF THE JOB.
Puhleeze!
July 1st, 2010
10:58 pm
Puhleeze! A couple of years ago, Emory’s V.P. of Finance got drunk and beligerent, FONDLED a waitress at a nearby Mexican restaurant and was arrested (I think) and he’s still on the freaking job! I say UGA accepts Evans’ apology and let him keep his job. If Emory’s Mike Mandl wasn’t fired for his outrageous behavior, NO WAY should Evans be fired, either. What Mandl did was umpteen times worse, IMO.
Pete
July 1st, 2010
10:58 pm
DILLIIGAF. Usually when a complete idiot cannot when an argument the first thing they call someone is “racist”. When I stop by tomorrow to get gas, please give me the correct change.
Profile
July 1st, 2010
10:58 pm
The man was pulled over and arrested because he was (1) a black man (2) driving an expensive BMW and (3) with a hot white woman. The cops don’t like that combination, which is why they profile.
blame it on the bossa nova
July 1st, 2010
10:58 pm
Enter your comments here
Damon Evans
July 1st, 2010
10:58 pm
so in buckhead i picked up a dame
and my excuse is really quite lame
but she looked really good
straddled on the beamer hood
but now my old lady says our marriage ain’t the same
UGA alum/fan in VA
July 1st, 2010
10:59 pm
GET HIM OUTTA HERE!!!
No more $,$$$.00 every year from me!!
Gator On The Loose
July 1st, 2010
10:59 pm
“”DUI does not equal unqualified individual, it does equal bad judgment OFF THE JOB.”"
As long as he doesn’t come to work drunk I guess its OK
outsider
July 1st, 2010
10:59 pm
Hey stupid your name applies, you could not have picked a more appropriate name. I see they deleted your hated racial comments.
The Jete
July 1st, 2010
10:59 pm
i know all you that don’t want him fired are from tech, florida, auburn, etc….
blame it on the bossa nova
July 1st, 2010
10:59 pm
Give it a few days and see how it goes. Nothing to be gained by a knee jerk reaction.
Stupid
July 1st, 2010
11:00 pm
They always wanting to be with a white woman.
Mr Charlie
July 1st, 2010
11:00 pm
Puhleeze show me the information that verifies your claim. Also, please point me in a direction where I can see his anti DUI video saying his JOB is to be a role model.
Pryncess
July 1st, 2010
11:01 pm
Pete,
I guess those were your words. I definitely haven’t seen anyone say that. Good day!
Pete
July 1st, 2010
11:01 pm
I actually do not think he should be fired. Just cannot stand when people say if he is fired it is “because he is black”
Mr Charlie
July 1st, 2010
11:01 pm
Gator, when your job is to be a role model, you are working 24/7.
Lee
July 1st, 2010
11:02 pm
HALF A MILL…………..just won’t get you good help anymore.