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
Stupid
July 1st, 2010
11:02 pm
They should fire him because he is STUPID.
The Jete
July 1st, 2010
11:02 pm
I blame Obama
Gator On The Loose
July 1st, 2010
11:03 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.”"”"
Remember, this isn’t Emory, this is the “sacred” UGA, an athletic program and “university” above reproach, and certainly should be held to a higher standard than Emory.
What a croc!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pi$$onaDawg
July 1st, 2010
11:03 pm
Sorry Mark B did I reply to bad to PETE. Sorry. I have complaines about the UGA enrollmenet for years. Now, I need to change my statements. DUMB BLONDE FEMALE, BLACK and the ABILITY to PLAY with the ROC, is not all you need to be a UGA student. Now, we have to add a DRUNK, Over PAID BLACK MAN the like to F… UGLY CHICKS. Is that better. 2675 African American Students at UGA for the 09-10 school year says it all.
Mr Charlie
July 1st, 2010
11:03 pm
I like his apology, he looks hungover as He**.
Observer
July 1st, 2010
11:03 pm
Good to see the ‘real’ Dawg Fans showing up here and representing the “Flagship”.
Hey Mark, think there might be a story about the Dawg nation reaction?
You don’t have the balls to report it though.
Reporter? NOT
Writer? NOT
Columnist? NOT
but a BLOGGER yes. Keep up the good work.
heeldawg
July 1st, 2010
11:04 pm
First of all, let me say that I’ve always been proud of Damon Evans. He’s done a great job as AD up to this point, and has been an example to the other U.Ga. football alumni of how important an education can be.
HOWEVER….
One cannot purport to be an opponent of drunk driving when one is a drunk driver. One cannot support the expulsion of a football player or cross country coach for a non-felony offense involving alcohol when one is indicted in a similar offense. Jim Bakker lost his credibility as an evangelist when he had an affair with a woman who was not his wife. Tiger Woods lost millions in “family” endorsements when it was revealed that he was a sex addict.
Damon Evans has lost all credibility as an AD in this situation. This is NOT about race. This is NOT about persecution. This is about unbelievably poor judgement on the part of a man who had everything–great wife, great kids, a dream job, etc.– and cashed it all in for a drunken tryst with some chick who was not his wife.
He should be fired, pure and simple. He has tarnished the University’s reputation and has betrayed the trust of Vince Dooley, the U.Ga. athletic board and the university’s alumni and fans.
Sorry, Damon. As much as it pains me to say it, it’s time to go.
CDAWG
July 1st, 2010
11:04 pm
Pi–onadawg, I am curious as to why you think UGA does not let in more people of color.
Kathyq
July 1st, 2010
11:05 pm
This is not a racial issue, so drop that line … this is a man who is supposed to be an example to the young men and women in his charge … he has failed miserably and should lose his job because of it. He was drunk, driving and in the company of “just a female friend” in the middle of the night. Enough said. Fire him for violation of his morals clause.
brad
July 1st, 2010
11:05 pm
How many black D-1 Athletic Directors are there? Not many I’ll bet. Georgia would never fire him the race card would get played on UGA so fast it would make your head swim. Race makes him safe.
Mr Charlie
July 1st, 2010
11:05 pm
Gator, the finance directors job is to run Emory’s accounting department. Evans’ job is to be a role model. You are comparing apples and oranges.
DILLIIGAF
July 1st, 2010
11:06 pm
Fire Michael Adams and give Evans another raise so that he can afford cab fare and better looking hookers.
Just Think'n
July 1st, 2010
11:06 pm
Rumor has it… they were headed over to see Blondie at the Clermont
Tiger's Wood
July 1st, 2010
11:06 pm
Hey…anybody know how to reach Courtney?
She looks like my type of woman…and things are a little lonely around here just now.
South GA Dawg
July 1st, 2010
11:06 pm
I am an African American, democratic, college educated, professional working, Obama supporting man. And with that I think Damon Evans should resign or be fired!!!!
Sarcastic Gator On The Loose
July 1st, 2010
11:06 pm
Mr. Charlie, please note my full moniker
Mr Charlie
July 1st, 2010
11:06 pm
Observer, sure, everyone on this blog is a Dawg fan, sure, good assumption.
Sheila
July 1st, 2010
11:08 pm
I think he should go. He is just sorry because he got caught!!
Ted Striker
July 1st, 2010
11:08 pm
The dirty little secret that existed between Michael Adams and Vince Dooley still exists.
There were actually valid reasons for Dooley’s exit and they had to do with Dooley’s poor personal choices that imperiled UGA.
Evans is on more solid footing now than Dooley was then. And I support him, when I could no longer support Dooley, although I liked the man.
Pryncess
July 1st, 2010
11:08 pm
‘Charlie’. I guarantee that UGA’s public relations dept. brought that campaign to him AND wrote it for him. Your point is again??
Mr Charlie
July 1st, 2010
11:09 pm
Damon Evans has not job responsibility, his only job is to be a figurehead, a role model. He has failed at his job. He is so F******* fired it is not even funny.
outsider
July 1st, 2010
11:09 pm
Mike Oxbig, this is not a joke, nor are your comments funny. Reply to either, this is a serious problem. Remember this is the first time he has been caught, not necessarily the first time he has done this.
dawg lover
July 1st, 2010
11:09 pm
True leaders are effective only if they lead by example. Damon can no longer be effective. I acknowledge his tenure at UGA, thank him for all he has done, but he has to go. It’s the only right thing to do for the university. Those saying it’s only one DUI…one is one too many.
We have become a society of second chances, then third chances and so on. The mentality of I can live and act recklessly and then apologize and it all goes away has to stop. Damon is 40, not 18. He was fully aware of the ramifications of what driving drunk can do. All actions have consequences; he will have to be a big boy and face them.
If Adams does not fire him, the Board needs to call for his resignation, fans need to boycott the games, and big money givers need to rescend some funding until something is done.
Thank God no one was hurt, but this kind of behavior is inexcusable from a man in his position.
Torpedo
July 1st, 2010
11:09 pm
Come on!! I guess some people (like Montel) wan’t to use the eternal excuse for this guy. Don’t even go there.
For the Gentleman asking about an article on Bobby Cox and his domestic abuse charge, did you forget they gave Rafael Furcal a break after he got 2 DUI’s…I REPEAT 2 DUI’S….how come you don’t point that out? oh yeah…..it will contradict your B.S.
Tron5000
July 1st, 2010
11:09 pm
Damon Evans graduated from Gainesville High. Here’s what a writer for the Gainesville Times had to say about the situation:
http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/article/34950/
Mike Oxbig
July 1st, 2010
11:09 pm
Dilligaf- you stole my thunder. i was just thinking – were all the hotel rooms in Atl booked and he had to drive back to her place? DE needs the Orbitz app on his i phone
Pi$$onaDawg
July 1st, 2010
11:10 pm
I don’t know If GT can find people of color to fill their student body why can’t UGA? I mean if UGA offers Landscape Enginerring you would think that MiLLIONS os hispanics would beating down the door of UGA for a degree, WAIT, I forgot The WHITEMAN needs to run the business and keep the Lation down in a lower paying Job lest he become Damon Evans and getting drunk and doing Chicks out of his race.
twopaths
July 1st, 2010
11:10 pm
“millions of white people voted and helped get Obama elected…a black man. And Oprah is the most popular and successful person on TV…and the last time I check…she is a black woman.”
TampaGator, it is obvious that you did not do well in Logic (class), as your argument does not hold water.
Fan
July 1st, 2010
11:10 pm
TampaG, and I am splicing your comments here, but I believe your emotional intent is the same…”Fan…then, yes, to your question if you are in a leadership position of college kids you should be fired” TampaG feel free to dispute my splicing above, but I doubt you meant it differently. With that rationale/logic, you would say that the President of the US would be in a “leadership position of college kids”, by awarness and internships alone, so any govt’ employee that is involved w/ college students/setting examples needs to be w/out fail. The man humbly admitted to a grave mistake, and you want to throw stones and kick him. 2nd chances and apologies shouldn’t have merit? He’s now in a position to where he can probably connect with kids even better than he did before by “witnessing” the downfalls of alcohol and the car keys, but you feel it’s fine to rip a man from his job, destroy his marriage and put his kids on the street b/c he made a mistake.
t_height
July 1st, 2010
11:11 pm
Im a black man and I’m tired of all of this race crap myself. Everybody say that balck people always pull the race card but whites are not better. Whites make the case worse by making racial jesture plus I feel that more white people are on here starting racist comments.
Ryan
July 1st, 2010
11:11 pm
It is funny to think that stuff like this has happened for decades to people of prominence in a variety of fields, and it was never a news story. Some may say that people are held to a higher standard thanks to the media, I for one disagree. Al Gore’s alleged sexual assault, Tiger Wood’s infidelity, and Damon Evans DUI have no impact on how any of these men perform their chosen profession. Does knowing about their mistakes change the positive things they have done, or could do in the future? Bear Bryant was a known alcoholic, Thomas Jefferson was a known adulterer, and I am sure there are others I could name. The point is that for these men their personal lives were off limits and respected. Today we crave to see others who are respected and successful fall…
Pi$$onaDawg
July 1st, 2010
11:12 pm
Just Think’n You are old school with Blondie. She was like 40 when they made me as A Pi Kappa Phi pledge get her to DO the KISS and sign the napkin. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Chuck Clausen
July 1st, 2010
11:12 pm
One of my favorite stories in the bible is when Jesus said “he that is without sin cast the first stone”
Damon is a fine young man who in every way has been a credit to our University until today – when I was Damon’s age I drank and drove plenty of times and only because of the grace of god I was not caught.
I will leave the criticism to the self righteous, Damon’s got some tough time ahead of him, most us don’t have to watch our mistakes on the evening news and front pages of the Newspapers. If sports world wants to chose up side please include me on Daman Evans side,
Gary Busey
July 1st, 2010
11:13 pm
I didn’t think the mug shot looked that bad.
harold
July 1st, 2010
11:13 pm
At Alabama, Florida, or Tennessee he would be GONE!
Jimmy Swaggart
July 1st, 2010
11:13 pm
Mr. Leeburn: Damon has sinned against you, and he begs your forgiveness.
Mrs. Evans: Damon has sinned against you, and he begs your forgiveness.
Mr Charlie
July 1st, 2010
11:14 pm
Pryncess, my point is, his job is to be a role model. How does he hold Mark Richt, and other UGA coaches accountable for the behavior of athletes if he cannot hold him self accountable?
1980 was so long ago
July 1st, 2010
11:15 pm
Pi$$onaDawg says “UGA offers Landscape Enginerring”
And in 1980 they offered a major to football players in cassette rewind.
Observer
July 1st, 2010
11:15 pm
Charlie…
If you don’t think every stereotypical joke abou the flagship is true, just read back through the comments posted by the ‘dawg nation’ on here.
What a pathetic group of followers!
Rice Street
July 1st, 2010
11:15 pm
It’s Rice Street, not Wright Street. He may have been at Atlanta jail which I hearis faster to get you in and out. Fulton County jail is notoriously slow and crooked. Someone should make a hat that says “In case of stupidity, take me anywhere but Rice Street”.
He should lose his job. I’m not saying he should never be given an AD job again but there are consequences to unwise decisions. UGA is a great school and a top five athletic department (money wise at least) and the AD position carries too much influence on students to not take harsh, decisive action. How many of us have driven when we shouldn’t have? This really should be a reality for many of us. My bigger problem is the young lady not his wife.
Mike Oxbig
July 1st, 2010
11:16 pm
here we go… now the Bible references are coming…
Kahki
July 1st, 2010
11:16 pm
Evans poor judgement and subsequent DUI is enough to call for his firing. He is no leader for young people. But is anyone concerned that he was out partying with another woman? That is equally despicable. Ask MANY Bulldog athletes who knew Evans before and they will tell you he was a questionable choice in the first place. He did not garner respect before and he certainly won’t now.
clickdawg
July 1st, 2010
11:17 pm
idiot supporter, u dang right, and that chip will always be on my shoulder, you a_ _
Omar Minaya
July 1st, 2010
11:17 pm
Thankfully, this messy little incident will not impair the ability of Damon Evans to run for President of the United States as a DEMOCRAT in the future.
Ted Kennedy could not be reached for comment on this story, mostly because AT&T Wireless does not yet have coverage in Hell.
Ryan
July 1st, 2010
11:17 pm
I’m a surprised some of you can read enough to type through your white hoods.
CDAWG
July 1st, 2010
11:18 pm
t_height, I think what we are seeing is that white people are fed up with the race card that has been played for years. The same as blacks were fed up in years past, it is no different.
Mr Charlie
July 1st, 2010
11:18 pm
Observer, when you show me the degree of each poster, then I will agree with you. This is a ****storm and it attracts all the flies. Had Mr. Evans practiced what he preached, these flies would not be attracted to this dungpile.
DMR
July 1st, 2010
11:18 pm
Michael Adams hired Damon. Damon was a good choice then. Damon has done a great job up to this point. Not once had he given the University any reason to doubt his ability or his character. But very much like Mettenberger having his run in with the law right after Ben Rothelesberger; Damon’s very public DUI comes on the heels of a 24 year old intern from the Governor’s office dying due to a drunk driver. This is such a serious matter, it transcends all other issues. I like Damon and the job he has done, but these serious infractions should be met with dire consequences.
tech fan
July 1st, 2010
11:18 pm
So many people are saying it was just a DUI. What if he had killed an innocent citizen while he was driving drunk? What if he had killed his passenger? He is fortunate to only have gotten a DUI and not a verhicular manslaughter last night. How about what his wife and children are going through now. The embarrassment he has caused them. It’s unfortunate that he has a job in the public eye, but he still needs to be accountable for his actions. Maybe he won’t get fired, but he sure deserves a demotion.
Bobby Cox Defenders
July 1st, 2010
11:19 pm
A-Men, Bobby Cox Defenders!
Thank you…someone finally grasped my point! I concur, if Damon Evans loses his job so be it.
Prior to your comments, I found the level of hypocrisy staggering in all of the comments excusing Bobby Cox’s arrest. Unfortunately, it sounds like some think Evans DUI arrest is a more fireable offense (has not been convicted), than Cox being arrested for domestic violence.
Again, thanks for getting my point.