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.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,388 comments Add your comment
UGA (STUPID REDNECK FANS, 7-5, 1980, RAPE, ZACK METTENBERGER)
July 2nd, 2010
10:25 am
hahahahaha
UGA (STUPID REDNECK FANS, 7-5, 1980, RAPE, ZACK METTENBERGER)
July 2nd, 2010
10:28 am
william wallace- well said my friend!
Erin Woods(Missus Tiger)
July 2nd, 2010
10:32 am
I used a golf club to help adjust Tigers attitude and received $750,000,000.00. Weapon of choice should be a golf club. Try it. You will like it.
UGA (STUPID REDNECK FANS, 7-5, 1980, RAPE, ZACK METTENBERGER)
July 2nd, 2010
10:40 am
That girl is what we like to call a MUDSHARK! Typical white girl who doesnt get any attention from white guys, so she goes to the dark side. What is really going on in Athens, people?
1980
zack mettenberger
rape
kentucky
and now the most famous one…….. DAMON EVANS!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Buddy El
July 2nd, 2010
10:56 am
Mark: Will you get some kind of award for receiving the most hits on this blog???????????????????
Buddy El
July 2nd, 2010
10:59 am
IF Jesse and Al won’t speak up for a brotha maybe Obama can issue a presidential pardon
Buddy El
July 2nd, 2010
11:00 am
Okay Dr. Adams: If you will resign we will back off some on DE.
MOJO
July 2nd, 2010
11:09 am
Greatest PSA ever issued right before the 4th holiday.
Florida Dawg
July 2nd, 2010
11:12 am
This is the only time Damon Evans has ever been driving drunk representing UGA as Athletic Director.
This is the only time he has been with another woman….her car broke down and he was just giving her a lift or just “driving her” home.
Just ask him.
adam
July 2nd, 2010
11:44 am
As a school teacher, I’d have been fired ASAP !!! As a pro athlete, my punishment would be going to the schools and lecturing the kids on the dangers of alcohol. Two-standards.
Damon Evans
July 2nd, 2010
12:07 pm
Our new slogan will be “DO AS I DO, NOT AS I SAY”
Shreveport Sam
July 2nd, 2010
12:23 pm
I’m just glad the skank’s behavior complemented Damon’s, no wonder they were together!
Best Buy/Geek Squad 40k employee
July 2nd, 2010
12:24 pm
For the GT scums commenting on here about morals and ethics, one name should shut their traps…Bobby Dodd!
Courtney Fuhrmann – Courtney Fuhrmann Arrested – LiveStreetJournal | Latest World Breaking News
July 2nd, 2010
12:51 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Roswell Dawg
July 2nd, 2010
1:37 pm
Mud shark….That one cracked me up!!!
Ed
July 2nd, 2010
1:50 pm
Why is he still Georgia’s AD? Evans should resign or be fired, right now.
cobbjacket
July 2nd, 2010
2:08 pm
Sorry for your troubles today dogs. With the exception of a few idiots on these blogs, I know alot of really great people who’s only flaw is being a dog fan(LOL), it’s these people that I feel for today.
Unfortunately, we all know what will happen, Adams will justify keeping him on and giving him a second chance etc, etc. But after a few months, the reports will get back from the road that this is not playing well in recruits living rooms and suddenly Damon “will be leaving the university to pursue other interests”. Adams will give him a big buyout, which Evans will promptly endorse over to his wife’s divorce lawyer and all will continue on happily ever after. Once this starts costing the university in either recruits or wins, Evans is gone quick.
Not an indictment or criticism of UGA, this is the way this thing would play out anywhere. Kinda sad that a lack of character and bad judgement won’t cost you a job, but losing football games or recruits will. Hope I’m wrong and Adams send the right message. Stay strong pups and we’ll see you in November.
Tired of BS
July 2nd, 2010
3:14 pm
If Mr. Evans were white, he’d already have his office cleared out. Racially insensitive, I know, but true.
If Mr. Evans posesses the character of a true leader, he will resign.
I am sorry for the embarassement his actions have caused his family.
fair and Balanced
July 2nd, 2010
5:21 pm
Gone! No choice! Pathetic example to young people. If he stays then we need a campaign to get rid of Adams!
Reeze
July 2nd, 2010
5:36 pm
Kid just wasn’t thinking clearly. He looks str8 tore up in this mug shot…….considering his position , what can UGA possibly do?
Reeze
July 2nd, 2010
5:41 pm
Tired of BS……..This is a problem that crosses all lines Color , gender ,etc., It’s not a issue of race…….But I do agree with you ……..he should resign…..Evans or UGA can’t possibly think that they can live this one down
UGA AD Damon Evans and his DUI: It's no laughing matter | Mark Bradley economic university
July 2nd, 2010
5:50 pm
[...] post: UGA AD Damon Evans and his DUI: It's no laughing matter | Mark Bradley By admin | category: University of GEORGIA | tags: athletic, athletic-director, [...]
Me
July 2nd, 2010
6:05 pm
The latest report is that the State Trooper was a former GATOR
cullowheedawg
July 2nd, 2010
9:05 pm
Like most dawgs, this one is bad. I also notice the same old tech, ala, & tenn fans jumping in joy over anything bad about UGA and this one is bad. I also was glad that a few of our SEC brethren were not jumping in joy. I hold out my hand to ATL_AU_ALUM & Gatorzone for ther classy and empathetic comments. I know that they still want to beat our a#$%# on the field, but not this way.
Love to all Dawgs and fellow SEC fans.
George Bush
July 3rd, 2010
12:37 am
To all you mud slingers when its your turn to take a drink and i mean just 1 and you decided to get behind the wheel of a car and those blue lights pull you over text and blog to your boss to fire you too, and by the way tell your spouse and kids “daddy or mommy can’t provide anymore!!!” This country has made such a big deal about being role models when you the majority of parents suck at it !!! People deserve a second chance but so many people act like christians but when it pertains to a public figure or someone they cant stand they become double standard. Damon Evans loves his family, UGA and all you supporters and haters too so lets just keep it REAL if George W. Bush was good enough to be forgiven and allowed to be our president for 8 years with the same charges be fair and give Damon a chance to redeem himself Too!! To all you DAWG FANS lets win a championship!!!!!
Rednecks SEC
July 3rd, 2010
1:40 am
This only applies to the racist that spoke of Al Sharpton and President Obama and Don’t Forget Boy Your Commander & Chief!!! They are not coming to speak for Damon he is his own Man. What they will speak on is how to crack down on you low down racist & SEC Schools for exploiting our Black athletes for TV and merchandise revenue in return for a stinking degree that they cant even go get a good job with. Start paying them 10k a year plus an education and maybe we will reconsider other than that this is our plan of action. It will take a good 10 years of hard work to re program our young black athletes that other sports exist like individual sports golf, tennis, swimming & boxing meaning they control their own fate. Tiger Woods & Serena Williams did it the right way.” Enough Said” So for all you NFL, NBA, MLB owners your day is coming too. Now I know some will say forget the black athletes we don’t need them anyway well at least you racist rednecks and SEC schools want continue to make money off them any more you can tail gate and look at bubba chase fumble!!!!
michaelangelo
July 3rd, 2010
7:17 am
Not only was he hammered, he was also cheating on his wife. Me thinks his moral compass is somewhat askew.
SW
July 3rd, 2010
9:10 am
Damon,
On the eve of a 500K contract signing???? You just took a large dump in the cash register.
CaptainMudderland
July 3rd, 2010
9:57 am
I am revisiting this comment section to amend my earlier impressions–after reviewing the incident report on line, I am going to conclude that Mr. Evans should be fired at once by UGA pursuant to the morals clause included in his contract. Tellingly, it says more to me about the kind of individual he is by becoming familiar with the person he had in his company–just a bad scene for UGA…and, much was said and done alledgedly during this traffic stop that would influence me substantially to favor the removal of Mr. Evans from his leadership position.
John
July 3rd, 2010
3:27 pm
Hire someone who is capable, and wants the job.
Find an attorney » Blog Archive » Athens attorney meets with UGA’s Evans – Atlanta Journal Constitution
July 3rd, 2010
6:49 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Lurid Details Emerge in Georgia AD’s DUI Arrest – SportingNews.com (blog) | DUI Attorney Local
July 3rd, 2010
8:07 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
MarkyBob
July 4th, 2010
12:22 am
The real scandal is that we know who this man is and that we are supposed to care so much about this. He is merely the athletics director at a university, for God’s sakes. He’s not the President of the united States, or the Pope. It’s ridiculous that we care so much about college football that his arrest warrant’s a front page headline. It’s ridiculous that he gets paid so much to do a job that is INCONSEQUENTIAL TO SOCIETY. If we had our priorities in order, this would matter about as much as the DUI arrest of the average regional manager for Hot Topic.
Gene Alan
July 5th, 2010
6:17 pm
We all laugh, pass judgement and point fingers, but how many MEN have done the same thing…Tiger Woods, SC Governor, NY Governor, now Damon Evans…Makes for a quiet night at the dinner table when all this is televised doesn’t it guys???? Go Dawgs!
DawgGoneGood
July 5th, 2010
7:23 pm
Michael Vick would be a good replacement for Evans, he already has lots of experience with Dawgs, and he too will be out of a job soon.
dog hater
July 5th, 2010
7:36 pm
I think this is definitely a HILARIOUS moment! I love the embarrassment this fool has caused that fool school. Who cares about this two timing idiot, at least it takes the headline off the usual UGA players beating up some other UGA students in downtown Athens for a weekend.
Dave from GT
July 6th, 2010
8:45 am
2 wods: Kobe Bryant!
Drink of Choice
July 6th, 2010
9:06 am
Where are those red panties? The skank wants them back ASAP to sell on Ebay for some quick cash.