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
BG
July 1st, 2010
1:20 pm
Most people on this blog have consumed alcohol or some other drug and got behind the wheel. Don’t throw rocks if you live in a glass house!!
Long Gator
July 1st, 2010
1:20 pm
Looks like “Miller Time” between the hedges.
Go Gators
TheAntiMe
July 1st, 2010
1:20 pm
I am famously unreligious. Just ask anyone. That’s why it’s funny that after reading this column by Mark Bradley, the first thought that entered my mind was:
He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone.
Wyatt Earp
July 1st, 2010
1:20 pm
Just keeping in tune with all the players arrested over the last few years.
da hood
July 1st, 2010
1:20 pm
Money Talks that will happen regardless ask Donnan.
Money Man
July 1st, 2010
1:21 pm
Damon Evans makes $550,000 plus tons of benefits, free car, etc. and he can’t afford to call a cab to go back to his hotel with his lady friend?
dawggirl
July 1st, 2010
1:21 pm
Why is it always men that make decisions that are this stupid? I say let him go. He’s an embarrassment and a disgrace. And to not fork out the money to avoid such a situation is almost more enraging, hire a freaking driver!
Lousy because I liked him as an AD, I thought he was doing a pretty good job. Who will serve as the interim until they hire someone else?
zoo
July 1st, 2010
1:21 pm
What a sad day for everyone.
As an aside, never, ever, ever take any field sobriety tests. You don’t have to. Cops won’t tell you that. Politely decline. Sober or not, the driver loses.
BG
July 1st, 2010
1:21 pm
Long Gator it has always been “Miller Time” at the SWAMP!
Mary
July 1st, 2010
1:21 pm
“a leader of young men” … Don’t forget he also is the leader of several successful women’s teams!
gdawginkalamazoo
July 1st, 2010
1:21 pm
“Too many dawg fans in the jury pool that will not convict just like the OJ Simpson Case”.
There were Dawg fans on the OJ jury? Learn something new everyday.
Barney Fife
July 1st, 2010
1:21 pm
Has Mr. Evans ever heard of a taxicab. I am sure that UGA must be paying him enough, to afford one.
If he was caught in Mayberry, Andy would have thrown the book at him.
He would at least have to spend the rest of the week in jail, and would not have gotten any of Aunt Bee’s homemade bisquits with his meals.
Plus he would of had to eat a jar of her pickles every other day that he was in custody.
Football Bat
July 1st, 2010
1:21 pm
I agree with the “he’s still just a man” and “1st offense” but picture him trying to allocate discipline to someone for an alc related offense? Can’t be done. Administers of Justice are held to a higher level. He’s gone.
smoore54
July 1st, 2010
1:21 pm
@ Educated Idiot
You are too kind.
All programs have flaws and I have always known UGA had it’s own challenges but this hits me where it hurts. We have so many areas of pride in our program and we should be riding a high after Wimbledon, the appearance of our softball team in post season play, and great performances in golf to name some current high points. We had 100 student-athletes on the SEC honor roll which are all great accomplishments.
We have men and women of character driving so many of our athletic programs. Damon Evans has been blessed with so much and has been a determined face to make our athletic program among the elite in the nation and honestly he had enough success to this point that I couldn’t help but believe in him.
Unfortunately, making this kind of poor decision blights all of those wonderful accomplishments and his own actions will be ultimate impediment to achieving his elite goal. As a leader you have to blaze a trail of not only demanding the best from others for the greater good of the program for which these athletes and coaches will toil but also being the embodiment of everything you expect from them. You have to be the prime example because what you do as the face of the program hurts everyone that trusted you to represent them. It’s a system of reciprocity and that trust and faith I had in his accomplishments, the trust and faith his athletes and coaches had in him is now broken. Irrevocably or not only time will tell.
VamonDevans
July 1st, 2010
1:21 pm
Mike S – don’t worry… the school [sic] never had credibility to begin with.
Old Fan
July 1st, 2010
1:21 pm
DUI is the least of his problems. He’d better hope that woman who was arrested in the car with him at that early hour in the morning was his wife.
Joe
July 1st, 2010
1:22 pm
Donald Leebern MUST BE REMOVED from the Board of Regents TODAY.
Michael Adams must be relieved of his duties TODAY.
Damon Evans obviously will be fired.
TONE
July 1st, 2010
1:22 pm
who should be the next AD ?
Anonymous
July 1st, 2010
1:22 pm
I know, I know, it was Charles Bannister in the passenger seat!
renegade#1
July 1st, 2010
1:22 pm
Damn college educated morons the world is full of them. Can you call me a taxi? O.K. your a taxi. Can you get me a taxi? Any hour of the day or night. People use your heads for something other than a hat rack there should be a brain in there use it for something other than soaking up alcohol. It’s a sad situation UGA you can’t beat the goose when the gander is guilty. Damon you don’t know anybody you could have called ? You must not have anybody on your friends and family call list. Pathetic
JackP
July 1st, 2010
1:22 pm
Don’t fret Dawg nation. The powerful and the politicians who receive free season football tickets will soon muster up forces that will get all charges dropped. After all Evans is one of our favorite sons. All will soon be forgiven and forgotten and you will be able to return to that “long island iced tea” you have been drinking.
Bummer
July 1st, 2010
1:22 pm
Well I am a Gator that IS Bummed about this. God forbid UGA gets rid of this clown and they were able to actually get an AD that would get UGA’s athletic department somewhat competitive with UF’s. As an Athletic Program the Gators have been far and away the best for the past 25 years but with the right man in charge UGA has the resources to challenge that. Hopefully Damon Evans will just get a reprimand and be able to keep his job and keep the dogs looking up at UF’s athletic program.
Paddy
July 1st, 2010
1:22 pm
Give him a second chance but shorten that leash to where it causes some discomfort. Like the NFL commish told MV upon his release from prison. There will be a much higher standard now covering your future behavior. (birthday party shooting will be a good test for the commish).
We are Marshall
July 1st, 2010
1:22 pm
It’s past time to clean house and get rid of the trash.
Bye bye Adams, Evans, and Richt.
Party On!
July 1st, 2010
1:22 pm
Damon looks really wasted in the picture. I’d like to know where he was partying—I may go there tonight if there are some decent quality chicks hanging at the place.
haha
July 1st, 2010
1:22 pm
A is for a$$hole and d is for dumb a$$
zoo
July 1st, 2010
1:23 pm
Certainly there’s more to the story, however, I have a feeling the rest of it is not good. Unidentified passenger who was arrested. Curious.
Charlie Bama
July 1st, 2010
1:23 pm
McGarret said “Ask yourself, have I ever gotten behind the wheel intoxicated? Now. Continue to throw stones at him.”
Ok, I asked, and the answer is yes, I did it –but that was when I was 16, 17, 18 tops. He’s Forty. Ask yourself, McGarret, if it’s still ok?
Here comes the SPIN
July 1st, 2010
1:23 pm
I guess UGA fans will just spin this as another “minor traffc violation” just like they do when confronted with the FACT that UGA has had MORE player arrest in the last 6 years than ANY other SEC school, yes including UF.
Every time the response is ” oh well our players arrest were nothing more than minor traffic violations” EVEN THOUGH there are SEVERAL DUI’s among the THIRTY-SIX plus player arrest UGA has had in the past 6 years.
You guys should work for Maytag because you have the SPIN MACHINE always on.
CLEVON LITTLE
July 1st, 2010
1:23 pm
I must say that Damon Evans is sure as gone –and he should be. You do not hold a half-mil annual salary at a major university and get a DUI & expect to not go unharmed. This was self inflicted. I hate it for him & the university. He’ll recover OK –probably not to where he is now, but he’ll probably settle on a job somewhere making more money than most people. And if you think this is bad, just think: HE could have killed someone, so it could have been worse.
Joe
July 1st, 2010
1:23 pm
I don’t want to get into a legal debate here, but any half-assed attorney will tell you to ALWAYS REFUSE the breath test, no matter what the circumstances, unless, of course you have had, literally, not one drop of alcohol.
Otis
July 1st, 2010
1:24 pm
Hey Barn’, he c-c-c-can buuuuunk wi’ me! (hic)
Barney Fife
July 1st, 2010
1:24 pm
Me and Andy never did a racial profile on anyone, partly because everyone in Mayberry was caucasion.
da hood
July 1st, 2010
1:24 pm
Add Dooley and Mike Bobo to that list and we got a deal.
Truth
July 1st, 2010
1:24 pm
Black Man driving 100k car
Police gets suspicious
Runs tag and sees it isn’t registered in his name
Makes up traffic violation(”The trooper made the traffic stop after observing the manner he was driving,”)
Realizes who it is.
Gets stars in his eyes
Gives him BS field sobriety tests that nobody can pass drunk or sober.
gdawginkalamazoo
July 1st, 2010
1:24 pm
His passsenger was arrested also?
Athens Shrink
July 1st, 2010
1:24 pm
This is a wake up call. Get the assistance you need at the proper and fitting level. 2 month minimum inpatient.
Evans--Party Machine!
July 1st, 2010
1:24 pm
Damon—you da’ partyin’ man! Leaving the club at 1AM with yo’ lady to get to some “real fun.”
Bring it on—-party hard!
30-24 Dawgs - We Run This State!
July 1st, 2010
1:25 pm
Prayers sent your way Damon!
The Cynical White Boy
July 1st, 2010
1:25 pm
This Just In….
Comrade Obama has invited Damon and the cop who pulled him over up to the White House for a beer.
They will join in a rousing chorus of Kum Ba Yah and all will be well again.
The heart-warming event will end with Comrade Obama being awarded yet another Nobel prize.
kiffen's bottom bitch
July 1st, 2010
1:25 pm
The fun is justing starting for UGAY Fox is already cheating. It is only a matter of time before the fox is caught in the hen house.
NativeAtlantan
July 1st, 2010
1:25 pm
Techie here – of course my initial reaction was a chuckle. But I think we can all agree this is sad.
Goes to show fame and fortune and a job most any guy would kill for doesn’t mean you won’t make dumb mistakes.
Plus it’s a sign of the times. If Vince Dooley or Homer Rice got pulled over for DUI back in the day, they wouldn’t have been hauled into jail, they would have been given a ride home, and no one would have heard a word of it.
Pi$$onaDawg
July 1st, 2010
1:26 pm
Just a few days after Sonny P loses an Intern to a Killer Drunk behind the wheel Damon don’t stand a chance in the Public Eye. Yes, many of us have had a drink and driven home. We also knew it was wrong. We got lucky and didn’t hurt someone, ourselves, or got a DUI, but Evan’s could have had anybody to drive him. I learned it is better to get drunk and post on the Blogs during football games. I can be fun.
JD
July 1st, 2010
1:26 pm
He hasnt been convicted for DUI people. He was CHARGED with driving less safe and failure to maintian lane. Please, driving less safe is really subjective and if you swerve just once then it is failure to maintain lane. We dont know what his blood alcohol level was or if he had been drinking at all.
DIT
July 1st, 2010
1:26 pm
No second chances. This is a leadership role at the University. He blew it! He needs to go.
By the way, rumor has it that it was Nancy Pelosi in the car with him giving the cop a hard time!
before you open your mouth and remove all doubt
July 1st, 2010
1:26 pm
here comes the spin
did you read the comments
most all of the 250 plus say he has to be fired mosly from dawg fans , yeah thats a heck of a spin campaign
papadawg
July 1st, 2010
1:26 pm
How can you discipline the kids when the stupid a__ AD does something like this. HE NEEDS TO BE FIRED>
Richard Alpert
July 1st, 2010
1:26 pm
Ooooohhh no no no no, Techies better not say a damn thing about this. Start winning consistently and then you can say something. 30-24 suck it nerds
JasperShankers
July 1st, 2010
1:26 pm
Evans is just the tip of the iceberg at UGA. Now that we’re officially in the off-season, wouldn’t this be the perfect time to take an in-depth look at UGA and have a free-ranging discussion about the problems at UGA and why the arrest rate of players (and the AD) is the highest in the country? it’s common knowledge that UGA is a party school, but have any football players every actually graduated with a real degree? Jan Kemp exposed the school and the coaches almost three decades ago, but there is no sign that anything has improved; if anything, the arrest rate shows that things are getting more outrageous every year while Mark Richt has no clue what to do.
UGA has become a major embarrassment to all Georgians, and we want some answers starting now.
BigTimeTECHFan
July 1st, 2010
1:27 pm
Forget football and rivalries, hats off to the police for catching him before someone got hurt or killed.