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
Hmmmm
July 3rd, 2010
7:45 pm
I don’t know of many people who lose their jobs because of a DUI, but I do know of people who find it virtually impossible to find a job because of a DUI…..I’m sure losing a job with such a lucrative salary would send his finances and possibly his marriage to utter ruin. Sometimes errors in judgment bring about ruin, but I still don’t like that other people are calling for the total ruin of someone because of one DUI….multiple DUIs deserve prison time…one DUI deserves a hard time from the court system, but to make the entire family suffer for something beyond their fault and control just reminds me that people have the capacity to wish the worst for other people until the table turns.
Hmmmm
July 3rd, 2010
7:55 pm
@Casimir
Evans did not, I repeat DID NOT set blacks back even one step. Exactly what kind of force, not person, but FORCE, do you think Damon Evans is? I don’t know, nor do I care what your race is, but to make asinine statements such as “he or she is a credit to his or her race” or assuming that one person’s behavior is a setback for an entire race are the mutterings of utterly ignorant person.
People of all races are excelling, and by the same token, people of all races have also made dismal failures of their lives, so let me ask you Casimir….did someone of your race set YOU back personally for a DUI? Were YOU discredited? Did YOU lose your focus, aspirations, job, promotion, or SENSE since the Damon Evans fiasco? Tell us about YOUR setback when someone of YOUR race did something stupid, please.
Really, you need to go somewhere and sit down. REALLY……………………….
mrzip
July 3rd, 2010
8:58 pm
BEEN THERE,DONE ALL OF IT,NO FOLKS HE WILL NEVER CHANGE,EVER/////
Bill Clinton
July 3rd, 2010
9:24 pm
Evans should resign and run for president of the U.S., the Democrats will love him
Suzanne Hurtado
July 3rd, 2010
9:54 pm
The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree – How are people expected to look up to him when he can’t even be an example? Some leader. He’s preaching to the choir.
willie lynch
July 3rd, 2010
10:02 pm
“let he who is without sin cast the first stone”. I heard that somewhere though I’ve rarely seen it practiced. Especially here in the “bible belt”. Hypocrites.
willie lynch
July 3rd, 2010
10:06 pm
You’re right Bill Clinton. He’d never make it in the republican party, because he’s not in the closet or bathroom stall or wherever it is you guys are caught these days.
MJwhatsgoingon
July 3rd, 2010
10:38 pm
Seriously? This is not a race issue, nor is it a stature issue! This is a safety issue! I am not the man’s wife, I feel bad for her. I don’t need to know about his personal life, all I need to know is that the man was driving drunk, and THAT IS DANGEROUS! As for his job… well, all people, white, black, or rainbow colored: If you are in a position where your leadership is looked upon, whether you invite it or not, you have an obligation to be an example. If not, don’t hold a high profile job. And for the black man down comments… yes, there are plenty of white politician’s etc. who have been caught who resigned from their jobs in shame. The other point: Practice what you preach and what you tell everyone you stand for, if you do, no one will find fault in you, and you won’t have to face ugly consequences. Shame on the people who think they have it all and try to use their status to get away with crap! No race card accepted here – just a public safety issue, and an issue with how a person can be the right or wrong person to represent a university.
MJwhatsgoingon
July 3rd, 2010
11:51 pm
Why do you think consequences for DUI’s are so high? People die. End of story. I don’t feel sorry for anyone who gets charged with a DUI. Why do you think he is getting raked over? He didn’t handle himself well with the police officer, and neither did his “friend”, otherwise this story wouldn’t have been so embarrassing or huge. If the man is only human, and makes mistakes, then the man should handle the consequences of his mistakes. That’s what makes a man, a man. What makes a smart man, is a man who thinks about the consequences beforehand and chooses the right path. Forgiveness, is given to those who are remorseful and are willing to accept the consequences, even when being given a free pass.
retired doc
July 4th, 2010
1:22 am
the state of georgia soon to go belly up financially-with a 1.2 billion shortfall projected for 2012-laying off teachers to balance the budget-and they pay this guy 550k per year. enough of this crap. plenty of people out there with far more sense who could do the job for a lot less….
Charles Fremont
July 4th, 2010
8:42 am
Evans projected an image far from the truth, and now he has proved that everything he is about is a lie.
W martin
July 4th, 2010
10:33 am
Its not the DUI thats going to hurt its the fact he was with a good looking white woman thats going to hurt. When his wife gets through with him hes going to kow pain.. LOL HaHa
Singer
July 4th, 2010
10:55 am
I heard from a very reliable source that Dave Braine has an interview with Michael Adams on Tuesday. Hopefully, if Adams plays his cards right, he can get a package deal with Braine and Chan Gailey. Stay tuned for more updates.
MJwhatsgoingon
July 4th, 2010
11:21 am
Good looking white woman? Hahahaha You’ve gotta be kidding, right?
The Painful Truth
July 4th, 2010
11:35 am
New pre-game commercial: I drank. I drove. I lost.
MK
July 4th, 2010
1:35 pm
This response to Montell J, You people never quit playing the race card….always thinking somebody owes you something! Evans needs to learn It’s all about choices!!! You make the wrong choice.. .you pay!
nparry
July 4th, 2010
2:08 pm
The Red PANTIES!! The Red PANTIES!!
Lili S.
July 4th, 2010
3:07 pm
Luckily he hadn’t hit anyone before arrested!
SteveFC
July 4th, 2010
3:13 pm
I am not certain what race has to do with this. If you think race is involved, what is the basis for your strange assumption? What facts lead you to believe that? How could an African American get fired for this without it involving race? This isn’t unusual. I am not sure what basis you have to feel that race is involved. Where is your evidence?
JT
July 4th, 2010
3:18 pm
I would like to know if there were any big money UGA contributors partaking in the pre-DUI drinking session, and what are their names.
UGA GARBAGE
July 4th, 2010
5:56 pm
UGA JUST LIKE GEORGIA IS FULL OF GARBAGE INBRED CRAP.YOU R ALL GARBAGE
Roger Jerrell
July 4th, 2010
6:02 pm
Mr. Bradley, I agree with you 100%. I would like to see your editorials published into Wave.Google,com so that we can “talk about it” in real time. The way of tomorrow today as they say. Cheers.
Mark Bradley
July 4th, 2010
6:04 pm
I’m not familiar with Wave.Google, Roger. I’ll have to check into it. But thanks.
Leigh
July 4th, 2010
6:42 pm
Damon received what he deserved as a result of poor decision making. I’m not a UGA fan but drunk driving is never acceptable. The worst offense however is driving drunk with a “friend” while holding her red panties in your lap. I wonder how he explained his antics to his wife and children. We all make mistakes but then we are not all AD with a major university. Good riddance!
Stevie Funder
July 4th, 2010
8:49 pm
Sad about Damon Evans. Seems like forced resignation for a one-time mistake like this from a guy that apparently kept his nose clean is tough. The DUI is a bad thing, NO DOUBT. Of course, race IS an issue to be considered here, too. Racism nowadays is often quite subtle and always complex; we can easily “contort” our public statements and outward opinions (like some in this thread) to feign innocence and distance ourselves from racism, but that doesn’t mean racism is not a part of the issue. INDEED, if he were white, this may have been swept under the rug completely. Perhaps not, but to have an honest discussion of the Evans matter it needs to be considered. In a society with a racist history (Examples being slavery; Jim Crow; the antics of staunch segregationist Lester Maddox; even today when white population centers like Johns Creek and “Klandy Springs” are incorporating to keep their tax dollars away from the so-called “lazy” black portion centers of Fulton County; only once have we elected a black man president and he didn’t win Georgia by the way) race has to be considered. Remember, that was the socio-culturally prized and symbolically valuable “blond white woman” that was choosing to be in the company of a black man on Wednesday. Is that act still worthy today of “symbolic” retaliation from a white male authority figure? If so, is the retaliation made easier when the possible racism involved can get interwoven with a DUI infraction and therefore diminished and palatably portrayed as a “garden varierty” moral indignation rather than — Oh My God –racism?? Let’s be real, for one to have an HONEST discussion about race and how our historic condidtionng on matters of race affect EVERYTHING in this country is not a bad thing. To pretend racism is nonexistent is the true cop out. If the psyche of some white folks in this thread is bothered by the so-called “race card,” then don’t be be upset with a black person for broaching the discussion. Rather, be upset with a racist southern white male dominated society that created and (to some degree) still perpetuates it.
Cheering for the Dawgs on Saturday afternoon doesn’t get you a reprieve from being questioned on your racist tendencies from those of us (black folks) that have had their current lives and ancestral history irreperably limited by it simply because of a polygenetic inheritance of darker skin. None of us can run from this truth — not even Damon Evans, the white woman he was with, Michael Adams, or the participants in this discussion.
edsel
July 4th, 2010
8:58 pm
Rumor has it that Courtney’s first question after she was booked into the jail was: “when can I get my red panties back?”
Dr P Wesley
July 4th, 2010
10:05 pm
This is likely the first time he was STOPPED after drinking and then driving….more than likely not the first time by any stretch that it’s the first time he actually commits the act. May well not be the last time either that he puts himself and someone else at risk of injury or worse. If he were not in a position of influencing and guiding young people in his job, it might look a little different, though not much. He needs to go, and he should know that without having to be told.
Emma
July 5th, 2010
7:32 am
Emma
July 5th, 2010
7:26 am
WOW!!!! Can’t say I feel sorry for him. When you are Black and in any top position you have to be three times as good and you need to dot all the “i’s” and cross all the “t’s”. Because you don’t get second chances if you go down the wrong street. Society will crucifiy you and the media will tar and feather you, doggone sounds like ole’ masta, don’t it? Your opponet might have a high school diploma but you better have your Masters or better. It’s a lesson well learned-Evans make sure your children know
warren goodstone
July 5th, 2010
9:07 am
This behavior is unacceptable on so many levels that there is clearly only one decision to be made here, and we know Georgia will have a new AD sooner rather than later. To the fools that claim race is an issue, or make it one, let them look in the mirror and say that drinking driving, crying like a baby, cheating on a lovely family, trying to bribe and using ones position to wiggle out of trouble and overall disgracing and making the University of Georgia a laughing stock, all of this would be overlooked if he was another race – wake up!
Jay cone
July 5th, 2010
11:19 am
YOUR DONE,SON
Juanita
July 5th, 2010
11:47 am
I think it is a disgrace that he has gotten himself caught up in a situation like this. His image is severely tarnished and also, to think that he is married with children and with a female “friend” having drinks…whose red panties, his or hers? Ummm. I think it is a disgrace that African American try so hard to take a positive stand, go thru much more than others, and then get caught up in the Snares of Deliah. Go home and apologize to your wife and try to keep your family togeter, Mr. Evans.
Glorious Reign
July 5th, 2010
1:35 pm
He would be fired no matter what color or what university……..DUI arrest ? He has to be THE EXAMPLE of athletic morality. He was the “say-so” of UGA Athletics. Geesh! And to note- Cheating nowadays is not going unpunished.Wives in the limelight no longer have to worry if their husbands are cheating…..time will tell, and it’s not taking long.
John M. Clark
July 5th, 2010
7:04 pm
No, Montell J., Were Evans white, he would’ve been gone in 5 minutes!!!
T Neely
July 5th, 2010
11:03 pm
I think this is such a hypocritical society we live in. WE elected a former Cocaine head and alcoholic to serve as our president for 8 years straight and he ran our country into the ground. Thanks George Bush Jr.! This modern day society that we live in breaks all rules. So many are closet freaks and we want to crucify anyone that slips up. UGA is one of the biggest party schools on the planet. I should know I graduated from UGA Dec 2000. For years I have watched young and old come to town during football season and get wasted in front of everyone. Parents getting wasted with their children (who attend UGA). The cops watch all these rich lushes get in their cars and drive away drunk. They dont road block them they help them on their way.
Im not saying that Damon is right for what he did. He shouldnt have got caught. He broke all the player rules of conduct. He should not throw himself at the mercy of other sinners. He will be back because he has talent and drive. His wife is a sweet woman. She did not deserve any of this and should be spared. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Unless damon has a bunch of babies throwing stones at him everyone should put their rocks down. If I were Damon I would tell the public to kiss my ass!!! With certain jobs its understood if you go to jail you will lose your job. He should have let them fire him. I dont think UGA has a no tolerance law as many players and faculty that they cover for. They even hired a convicted child molester to teach an online class that I was taken in 08 Dr. Cecile Fore. Now thats sick and there were no press conferences or people after his sick ass. Damon keep your head up and make it up to your wife in everyway and keep her vicky secrets in your lap from now on.