UGA AD Damon Evans and his DUI: It’s no laughing matter
Damon Evans' mug shot. (City of Atlanta)
We make jokes, but there’s nothing funny about a DUI. There’s especially nothing funny when the man arrested is, by job definition, a leader of young people, and when some of those young people have had alcohol-related issues of their own.
Damon Evans warrants the same legal protection as everyone else: He’s innocent until proven guilty. But men in positions of leadership are held to a standard above and beyond legality: They’re supposed to be exemplars. Just by putting himself in position to pose for an unflattering mug shot, the Georgia athletics director has thrown his stewardship into question.
Michael Adams doesn’t like a lot of things — the BCS and Vince Dooley, to name two — but mostly the president doesn’t like being embarrassed. That’s why Jim Harrick, whom Adams had both befriended and championed, was pushed out the door within a month of Tony Cole’s appearance on ESPN in 2003.
You disappoint the president at your peril, and the president cannot be pleased today. This president chose Evans to replace Dooley, which means Adams leveraged much of what political capital he had left on the promotion. This president, as we know, has crusaded against underage drinking; he surely expects better of the adults on his staff.
There can be no quibbles about Evans as AD: Even with a difficult act to follow in Dooley, he has done well. He presides over a department that mints money and fields teams of high quality. He made a difficult decision to fire Dennis Felton and found, in Mark Fox, a coach who effected an immediate upgrade. In his public statements about Mark Richt and the football program Evans has sounded the proper notes — supportive but expectant of improvement.
Alas, there are no proper notes when you’ve been hauled to jail. There’s no way to explain the incongruity of a DUI being incurred by the man who made a video — it’s screened on the Sanford Stadium message board before and during games — imploring Georgia fans not to drink and drive.
“If you drink and drive,” Evans says in the video, “you lose.” He’s about to learn how difficult it can be to win back a good reputation. Fair or not, he’s no longer the bright and brassy AD of the state’s flagship school; he’s the guy who’ll spend the next decade trying to live down one unfortunate mug shot.
UPDATE: Georgia has scheduled a news conference for 6 or 6 :30 p.m. Thursday, and esteemed colleague Chip Towers has been told Damon Evans will appear. So that’s where I’m headed.
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1,388 comments Add your comment
Cuz
July 1st, 2010
2:21 pm
That must have been some party to celebrate the raise.
This too shall pass in time.
Scott
July 1st, 2010
2:22 pm
bigstack
There’s a big difference between being employed by a PRIVATE firm and a PUBLIC one. And one that is held to a HIGHER standard and watches over KIDS and not ADULTS.
Stupid comparison to Larussa.
Red
July 1st, 2010
2:22 pm
ugaclassof2004, are you serious? Point is, students…young men and women, will be applying to this school and they see him as an example of hypocrisy. So tell me, you want your son or daughter to go to a school that basically gave a pass to a public leader for DUI? It’s an embarrassment to UGA and thank God he did not kill anyone.
ugaclassof2004, are you serious? Point is, students…young men and women, will be applying to this school and they see him as an example of hypocrisy. So tell me, you want your son or daughter to go to a school that basically gave a pass to a public leader for DUI? It’s an embarrassment to UGA and thank God he did not kill anyone.
Alan
July 1st, 2010
2:22 pm
lol,lol,lol,lol,lol,……..etc………yeah, I’m a cool guy…….lol lol lol lol
another one bites the dust
July 1st, 2010
2:23 pm
Just knowing that both my tax dollars and contributions to the University paid this jerk’s salary….whoa. He has got to be cut loose NOW!
Stephen W.
July 1st, 2010
2:24 pm
It will be interesting to see what happens. If the athletes are punished with suspensions, I suspect the university will come down hard on this man. In any case, perhaps these recent DUI arrests of high profile individuals are a wake up call for the rest of us. I know I’ve had prior lapses in judgement when it comes to drinking and driving…just glad it never caused any harm to me or others.
wesleywhatwhat
July 1st, 2010
2:24 pm
lol. how about them dawgs?!?
Cuz
July 1st, 2010
2:24 pm
Was the State Trooper a Tech fan? I smell a setup.
Hillbilly Deluxe
July 1st, 2010
2:24 pm
Doesn’t Georgia still have an implied consent law?
heyberto
July 1st, 2010
2:25 pm
He was a damn good AD but he cannot be retained after this. It’s a shame when personal conduct forces you out of your job when you’re good at it… but he’s gotta go. He cannot lead a University based Athletic Department and the young men under its purview. Good look Damon, you served us well, but because of you’re stupidity you’ve gotta go.
savh dawg
July 1st, 2010
2:25 pm
Get a taxi or a limo. You make 500,000 dollars a year
Pi$$onaDawg
July 1st, 2010
2:25 pm
Will Evans replacement look like UGA VIII or will he be more like RUSS?
Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot!!!
July 1st, 2010
2:25 pm
ugaclassof2004, I graduated in ‘04 as well. However, there is no amount of “well we all did it” reasoning that will make it right. BTW, banging his secretary would be more honorable than this. In that scenario he would be hurting himself and his family and that of the secretary. However, somebody or somebodies could have been innocently killed by this act of stupidity.
Cuz
July 1st, 2010
2:25 pm
I wonder if Rothleisberger’s lawyer is available. Mark could you check on that?
smoore54
July 1st, 2010
2:27 pm
Mark Bradley
Sadly, what is there to say?
WonderDawg
July 1st, 2010
2:27 pm
Will do, Gatorzone. Incidentally, my best friend and fishing partner is a Gator, and we both agree that those 40+ points y’all been scoring on us is about to come to a halt!
Seriously, I’d just like to see it get competative again. Go Dawgs!
The Most Interesting Man in the World
July 1st, 2010
2:27 pm
Stay thirsty my friends.
tell it like it is
July 1st, 2010
2:27 pm
Boy!! that garbbage on campus was nothing compaired to this.
99Dawg
July 1st, 2010
2:27 pm
9 out of 10 people saying Damon should be fired have prob driven over the limit and were not caught. He is a good man, let’s wait to get the facts before you call for his head.
Society has become overrun with moralists who want to be judge/jury/executioner, can’t believe so many of Dawg nation are too. Sad.
Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot!!!
July 1st, 2010
2:28 pm
heyberto, He was not a “damn good” athletic director. He was a pathetic excuse for one and hand picked by Adams. Take a look at the rankings they speak for themselves, http://georgia.scout.com/2/972464.html
TampaGator
July 1st, 2010
2:28 pm
Alex…I am not on a “high horse”…..but I am a “recovering alcholic” and have been for nearly 28 years now. I don’t EVER drink and drive…not for at least 28 years anyway. I have experience first hand loss from someone who drank and drove…I personally know the loss of it. What is worse, I realize now in my younger days I could have been the person who killed her. Yes, I was “lucky” when I drank…and never received a DUI. But I fully realize now the stupidity and danger of doing so. Too bad you don’t.
Pi$$onaDawg
July 1st, 2010
2:28 pm
CUZ the Trooper was really a Gamecock fan. He was feeling like celaberating the CWS the Gamecocks just won by kicking a Dawg so to speak.
Tech Man
July 1st, 2010
2:28 pm
He made a mistake. He should only lose his job and then be allowed to move on with his life. He no longer can be a credible leader of young men.
Gatorzone
July 1st, 2010
2:29 pm
It is ALWAYS a big game for UF, no matter what some may say. This year should be a doozy!
GT Alum
July 1st, 2010
2:29 pm
Dang, the comments on this are coming too fast to keep up with. Despite my name, I’m not going to pile on here. I’m among the group who feels that DUIs are no laughing matter. Just last week, one of the big stories on the AJC was about a young man who was killed by a drunk driver who ran a red light.
To those who talk about his legal options and the fact he refused the breath test:
1) I’m not going to take the fact that he refused the breath test to mean too much. It’s obvious he wasn’t using his best judgment at the time, and, if he’s as drunk as he looks, that could at least partially explain why he wasn’t thinking clearly
2) I would think his best approach from a legal perspective, a PR perspective, and a career perspective would be to own up to it and take whatever punishment he gets. If he fights it, he ends up looking like an even bigger hypocrite and further kills his credibility. If he admits his mistake and takes full responsibility, he could salvage some level of integrity.
2Pac
July 1st, 2010
2:29 pm
I like an AD that knows how to party!!
TS
July 1st, 2010
2:29 pm
Ouch. I can’t help but feel sorry for the GA fan base. Sheit rolls down hill. If your AD is getting busted for this juvenile behavior he has got to go. It’s one thing if a 20-year-old in college gets caught and suspended. When a 40-something in a leadership role pulling down the bacon does it that’s inexcusable.
Pi$$onaDawg
July 1st, 2010
2:30 pm
Cuz the trooper was a So. Carolina Fan. He was celaberating the CWS win by kicking a Dawg so to speak.
ColumbusDawg
July 1st, 2010
2:30 pm
He must be fired!
DawgFan
July 1st, 2010
2:30 pm
Sorry Damon, in that role it is one strike and you’re out. It doesn’t matter if you are innocent, the damage is done. Heck, OJ was innocent. Dawg fans need to be most concerned with who was in the passengers seat. Does anyone know where Murray is?!?!?!
bob
July 1st, 2010
2:30 pm
precedence: see RIck Pitino
If he goes for this, should every student athlete be expelled for similar offenses.
STUBBHUB
July 1st, 2010
2:30 pm
Georgia football tickets for sale. Half price.
Call BR-549. Ask for Junior
tailgateapproved
July 1st, 2010
2:30 pm
Shouldn’t the lede on the column include leader of young men AND women? The AD is over women’s sports as well, yes?
enz
July 1st, 2010
2:31 pm
Typical Dawgs!!! Way to go! You could’ve at least stayed awake for the picture…
Really classy move. He needs to just accept the charges and not try to fight it…I agree with GT Alum…
bigdawg88
July 1st, 2010
2:31 pm
DAMN…DAMN…DAMN!!!!
Alan
July 1st, 2010
2:31 pm
He loses his license for a year now. Now he will have to do what he should have done before this happened.
I bet the Athens cops would have given him a pass. Wonder what happened with the passenger. Doesn’t sound good.
Joe
July 1st, 2010
2:31 pm
What does Evans do to earn $550,000.00 a year? That’s why universitys in this state are having a hard time with their budgets. Really now, is this Evans worth $550,000.00 a year? UGA needs to reevaluate their pay scale.
OzzyBraves
July 1st, 2010
2:32 pm
Sorry Dawg fans from a Yellow Jacket.
I am not going to pile on this one either.
A lot of people on here drink and then get into a car to go home, but sometimes when you know you are in a spotlight or under a microscope this happens. He had a lapse in judgment and probably nothing more, but sometimes that’s all it takes.
Hope you guys find another AD. This guy should really be gone.
Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot!!!
July 1st, 2010
2:32 pm
2Pac “I like an AD that knows how to party!!”
Well 2Pac, Damon does not know how to party, If he did he would have called a DAMN Cab!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 1st, 2010
2:32 pm
Great to hear Cuz!
Since this has happened how about appointing Vince as interim AD until a new AD can be vetted and found?
BRING BACK VINCE!!!!
johngalt
July 1st, 2010
2:32 pm
I am a rabid Jacket fan, but I feel sorry for this guy. Who among us has not stepped behind the wheel of a car after maybe one too many drinks (and 1 is really too many)? This guy made a HUGE mistake and my hope is that he does indeed pay for it. But he had a very promising career and it’s safe to say that it is over.
Lest I preach too much, I’d make one more comment – this is a long holiday weekend and many of us will be hitting the road. We should all see this as an abject lesson to stay sober, rely on a designated driver, and be safe on the roads this weekend.
Happy 4th, all.
TS
July 1st, 2010
2:32 pm
He looks “BLACKOUT!”… get it?
Steve
July 1st, 2010
2:32 pm
I always knew the way he treated Dooly would come back to haunt Adams. Now it has.
Pi$$onaDawg
July 1st, 2010
2:33 pm
Didn’t he learn anything from TIGER WOODS. Them Other Women will get you in trouble every time.
Reality Stinks
July 1st, 2010
2:33 pm
Could this be a record for number of post stayed tuned
The Alpha Male
July 1st, 2010
2:33 pm
Anybody who’s ever driven drunk needs to keep their stupid, hypocritical mouths shut.
STUBBHUB
July 1st, 2010
2:33 pm
Also now have a sky box for lease, Half price
scottw
July 1st, 2010
2:33 pm
If he had not been so vocal about drinking and driving, maybe he should be given a second chance, but if he is found guilty, he has to go.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 1st, 2010
2:34 pm
johngalt,
Very good point about the upcoming weekend and I 2nd your comment.
Zeb
July 1st, 2010
2:34 pm
Coach Richt is a good christian man and this is how you get a good christian man to say, “What the F$%k!!!”