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
iloveydawgs
July 1st, 2010
8:41 pm
I agree totally with you, Mr. Bradley. Damon is very lucky–he should definitely be fired. If I were Mrs.Evans and it is true he had a 28 year old female with him I wouldn’t have bothered to even show up for his press conference. You can bet your bottom dollar if this were a student-athlete they would be gone and so should Evans. He isn’t practicing what he preaches….
Sid
July 1st, 2010
8:42 pm
Let’s hire Tiger Woods!!Or Barrack Hussein Obama who will be available in 2013.
Call Kobe
July 1st, 2010
8:42 pm
Damon Evans needs to get on the phone to Kobe Bryant and find out how much bling he needs to bring home to his woman to get her to “overlook” his affair with this bar fly he picked up.
Idiot supporters
July 1st, 2010
8:42 pm
Whatever. I stand by my beliefs. The fact that 90% of blacks still support obama, the oj crap and their undying support for tiger proves my point.
FalconUGAFan
July 1st, 2010
8:43 pm
TampaGator..I FINALLY agree with you on something…I’ll never never forgive Bobby for the Liebrandt incident. Preach on, my brother!
Errrrrbody get Tipsy
July 1st, 2010
8:43 pm
I wonder if Damon will purchase some serious Bling for his wife to smooth things over?
mayor bob
July 1st, 2010
8:43 pm
Damon….cut a deal…call a news conference in the a.m…and resign….some stupid things that we do..in the careers we are in….just make the decision easy to just pull the trigger on your self…(meaning you resign…with grace)…
Go hide for a while..and re-bound..in an office job in the NBA….that league could give a rip..what your arrest record is…..
J.S.Champion
July 1st, 2010
8:43 pm
No Fan, everyone arrested/convicted of DUI shouldn’t lose their job. However, everyone that drives for a living or represents those that do should lose their job if proven guilty. Damon certainly should have been in a limo or at the very least, a cab! UGA/71.
Georgia AD apologizes after DUI arrest – The Associated Press : easy search plus
July 1st, 2010
8:43 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Bobby Cox Defenders
July 1st, 2010
8:43 pm
All of you making excuses for Bobby Cox’s behavior, need to examine your irrational arguments.
Bobby Cox, arrested for abusing his wife is in a leadership position and the face of an major league organization. Is he not responsible for leading by example? Does the buck stop with him as it pertains to his players and staff?
The majority of outrageous comments about Damon Evans are grounded in the same premise: leading by example and expectations and responsibility as head of UGA Athletics. So, Bobby Cox defenders, why castigate Damon and excuse Bobby? HMMMM!
Also, for those who resort to name-calling when others disagree with you, it is very telling. Just confirms you lack the intellectual capacity to engage in spirited discussion of divergent views.
Pi$$onaDawg
July 1st, 2010
8:44 pm
Again most people working for a paycheck that go to Jail for a DUI miss work and face some big problems. They don’t call work to say I am Sick on a collect call from a jail phone. They miss the next day of work have to wait to see a judge to get bail set. Then thye have to have somebody post bail and spend hours getting processed out of jail. After all that is done they must get their car out of impound. The Fact that Damon could all that and be neat and clean for a press conference in less than 20 hours is a joke. Montell J that BLACK MAN got better than most Black men and White men too. If you want to complain then complain he got special treatment because of his standing.
Errrrrbody get Tipsy
July 1st, 2010
8:44 pm
Call kobe … we had the same thought!
Buckhead Bulldog
July 1st, 2010
8:44 pm
Poor dude messed up. I actually feel for him. Who of us hasn’t screwed up in life? However, the problem is that he is paid a lot of money to represent all UGA Athletics in the best and most favorable light. His duty is to guide the UGAAD with great character. He is not paid 550k to make UGA look like a-holes. He did. HIS error in judgement, no one else, has created a black eye for UGA. Therefore, there is really only one choice, and that is to let Damon go.
This is a sad situation all the way around….at least no one got hurt physically. Man oh man! Not good.
fpm
July 1st, 2010
8:45 pm
And she isn’t that cute, either.
Casey
July 1st, 2010
8:47 pm
Excellent point Piss.
"Chef" Tim Dix
July 1st, 2010
8:47 pm
Damon, was THIS chick worth the Statesbore Blues?
Georgia AD apologizes after DUI arrest – The Associated Press | TheNewsTrend.com
July 1st, 2010
8:47 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Georgia AD apologizes after DUI arrest – The Associated Press | Snafu Blog
July 1st, 2010
8:48 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Errrrrbody get Tipsy
July 1st, 2010
8:49 pm
Bobby Cox wasn’t a proponent for battered wives at the time of his arrest. Now do you understand the difference?
Bob Horner didn't have much range at 3rd base
July 1st, 2010
8:50 pm
Yall are mean…I’d do that girl…(if I was drinking…)
curious
July 1st, 2010
8:51 pm
I’ll bet this is not the first time Evans has been doing some buzz driving. He should not be fired for DUI even if convicted. That would be hypocritical. How many UGA faculty are members of AA? Just cut his pay and order mandatory and random drug-alcohol tests. To me, the real questions as to his credibility and integrity begin at home. What did he tell his wife about his whereabouts? Working late at the office, budget problems, boring meetings, etc. If he’ll cheat and lie to his wife, maybe the NCAA should take a closer look at UGA athletics.
You Know Who
July 1st, 2010
8:52 pm
OK. I get it. So if I go in front of a bunch of people on TV and say how much I let UGA down, can I be starting QB? I’ll even tear up my fake IDs. And I promise I’ll never grab another babe—at least any place where somebody can see me.
"Chef" Tim Dix
July 1st, 2010
8:52 pm
Dr. Adams should be contrite too, agreeing to move his statue and ask Coach Dooley to head up the search committee
Errrrrbody get Tipsy
July 1st, 2010
8:53 pm
you reckon Damon told his wife” Honey there is a nice friend I want you to meet ” ?
Fan
July 1st, 2010
8:53 pm
So TampaG ANY Govt. job employee who gets a DUI should be fired?
And by deductive logic you wouldn’t HIRE one, so Bush shouldn’t have been President, and the constitution should be ammended to prevent such occurances.
Pi$$onaDawg
July 1st, 2010
8:54 pm
CASEY thanks, but it is because I did the DUI thing too and I know from my time at Wright St. I am not proud. I learned the process in a bad way. PS to all the people that think everybody that does bad should be in Jail! I beg of you to spend a little time in the SYSTEM and realize some of the crap is a joke. Probation is ment to keep people in the system and make it hard for them to get better. i hire Ex-con for my business because they need a shot. A few have let me down, but most want to be better.
Bob Horner didn't have much range at 3rd base
July 1st, 2010
8:55 pm
curious…when you’re knocking down $500K a year you can tell your wife you have to go to Atlanta for a meeting…as long as you let her shop whenever she wants…..that is how that works…$$$$ keeps women happy…generally speaking…you didn’t know..???
Georgia AD apologizes after DUI arrest – The Associated Press | Hot Topics
July 1st, 2010
8:57 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Georgia AD apologizes after DUI arrest – The Associated Press
July 1st, 2010
8:57 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Dawg Whisperer
July 1st, 2010
8:59 pm
I was at the Okefenokee Swamp earlier this summer and heard one of those gutteral gator growls. I almost fell out of the boat. Right now, I think Damon would rather face a swamp full of gators than a pack of dogs yiping at his heels. I don’t see a pleasant ending for Damon at UGA but I hope he finds forgiveness from his wife and family.
bornloser
July 1st, 2010
8:59 pm
if he was white he would already be fired
Douglas
July 1st, 2010
9:00 pm
So Mark…if you get caught with a DUI, I expect you to resign immediately. And if you don’t, based on your comments, you ought to be terminated immediately.
courtney fuhrmann
July 1st, 2010
9:00 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Bobby Cox Defenders
July 1st, 2010
9:00 pm
Errrrrbody get Tipsy…
So the fact that Bobby Cox was not a proponent for battered wives, excuses him for beating his wife? Is that really your argument??
Are you inferring if Damon Evans had not been an advocate against drinking and driving, he should not be fired?
kaput
July 1st, 2010
9:02 pm
bcscollegefootballboard.com for great, free, moderated fun
only serious football fans welcomed
sanddog
July 1st, 2010
9:02 pm
What a bunch of saints. No one without sin. And Bradley must be the new Crist. Sinless. Give me a break.
scBravesfan
July 1st, 2010
9:02 pm
This is a gots to go situation…
Pi$$onaDawg
July 1st, 2010
9:03 pm
people calling the Race card and OBAMA and Bush drinking. Bush has not had a Drinking mistake while in office. If Obama were born from a jewish mom he would be considered Jewish not black. Damon is the head of the 2nd larget cash flow in college athletics. Now don’t complain about the RICH WHITE GUYS that “STOLE” your money in Ponzie Schemes. It sounds like that is what ADAMS is doing to UGA fans. The Drunk Skipper at he helm of the EXXON Valdez was fired. Why not Adams and Evans?
Gdog
July 1st, 2010
9:05 pm
Beast From The East…..
Mettenberger…. He sexually assaulted a female at a bar….. On top of all the other stuff he did.
Damon is one of the TOP AD’s in the Nation regardless of what you or I think…. It makes it hard to just cut him lose and hope you can find someone that can come close to what he had done for UGA. He should be punished for what happen…. Yes, he will have to rebuild his reputation and the University will have a black eye for awhile but at the end of the day it is better to stick with something you know then starting over and hoping things with stay the same.
Shopping Trip
July 1st, 2010
9:06 pm
After that press conference, Damon’s wife headed over to the athens mall and spent a lot of time looking at jewelry! Damon will pay that bill without question!
Errrrrbody get Tipsy
July 1st, 2010
9:06 pm
Bobby Cox Defenders….. No I was simply inferring that Bobby Cox wasn’t being a hypocrite.
balismith
July 1st, 2010
9:06 pm
boo hoo hoo another one bites the dust/ seems that power corrupts is true/ tired of hearing how sorry the powerful are when they get cought.. great pic damon.. ur girl looked cute too
Bobb Cox Fan
July 1st, 2010
9:07 pm
Why is Bobby Cox being drawn into this debate. This is about Damon Evans and his stupidity. But I hope Damon’s wife beat the snot out of him this morning!
dawg149
July 1st, 2010
9:07 pm
If you’re going to keep Evans, then you must reinstate every player let go for alcohol related problems. Now how’s that gonna work for ya?? Black, white, red, green, he’s got to go. There is no choice here people. As a lifelong dawg, I’d be embarrassed if UGA keeps him.
Diehard
July 1st, 2010
9:09 pm
Damon Evans is trying to spin his way into keeping the best job he will ever have. Mike Adams is now left to be the bad guy – again – when its the head of the Athletic Dept fails the first test of leadership: not for ourselves, but for others.
Drunky Unky
July 1st, 2010
9:10 pm
Big whoop! Boys will be boys! He who hasn’t drove drunk with some sweet pootang feel free to caste the first dawgbone…
Bulldog59
July 1st, 2010
9:10 pm
Everybody gets to play Michael Adams for a few minutes here…..
If it were me, I would say, we will NOT abandon you Damon, but you will be reassigned to a job with lesser pay. One of the 2 main spokesmen for a major university can not do what you have done.
Accept reassignment to asst. AD in charge of finance, where you have proven your value in the past. Take that or a severance package.
Most likely, he resigns.
Hey, that wasn’t so hard.
Not a leader
July 1st, 2010
9:10 pm
It’s very simple – Damon Evans has spoken many times against driving while drunk. Many students would listen to what he said – he’s now lost all credibility. You can’t be a leader without credibility – he’s needs to be let go.
George
July 1st, 2010
9:11 pm
i agree with jamie. if he suspends someone that person can come out publicly and say the man that suspended him did the same thing and got off clean. it would be bad for UGA to keep him
Georgia AD apologizes after DUI arrest – The Associated Press | Elaike News Center
July 1st, 2010
9:11 pm
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