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
UGA is Just Fine...
July 1st, 2010
1:38 pm
Aside from the embarrasment to himself and the university, MB’s headline says it all. As someone who lost a friend to a drunk driver, I find this very disturbing.
Drunk driving is a very serious matter and not to be taken lightly regardless of age. It’s bad enough when a player does it, but at least in those instances it can usually be chalked up to the combination of being young and stupid. I’m sure many of us were fortunate to get home safely when we otherwise could have had a tragic end to a night of partying or a DUI at the very least. Again we’ve all been through our “young & dumb” phase of life. But for a grown man over 40 who is in his position to not exercise better judgement is ridiculous.
I just don’t get people like Evans and the myraid of financially well off celebrities and sports stars who’s “pocket change” could pay for a cab or even a limo, but still choose to take the route of risking so much because of poor judgement.
In retrospect I bet he wishes he’d called AAA, had his car towed home, and commissioned a cab to take him home. How much could that have cost him? Under a $1000.00 I’m sure. Hell, he’ll need that much just to retain a decent lawyer.
All that being said as we approach the long holiday weekend, I’m begging anyone reading this to remember not to drink and drive and remind everyone you know as well. I hope no one will ever have to endure the pain of losing a relative or close friend. My friend’s son was born literrally a month before my son, and every year when my son’s birthday rolls around I think about how his son lost his father who was former Marine and an outstanding human being because some loser decided he couldn’t learn his lesson from the first FOUR DUI’s!!! I think of all my friend’s valuable life lessons and teachings he will never be able to pass along to his son. Sorry if I come across preachy, but as I’m sure anyone who has lost someone to a drunk driver will tell you, losing someone to such a senseless act stays with you forever.
I know folks who are fans of other teams are getting enjoyment out of this news and the black eye it is for UGA, but let’s all take a moment and remember drunk driving isn’t a laughing matter.
Regardless of who you root for, please have a safe and happy holiday weekend.
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
July 1st, 2010
1:38 pm
Damon must go, as a “leader in administration” he has no more credibility. I hate it for the guy, he has always been a UGa first kind of man, but this total lapse of reason completely rules out his continuing in the AD position. Thanks to all who have posted adult comments, this is a sad turn for Mr Evans and his family, and is not a laughing matter.
Meller
July 1st, 2010
1:39 pm
thats what i was afraid of , WonderDawg, if thats the case then he surely has to go NOW!!!!!
Jesse Jackson
July 1st, 2010
1:39 pm
Come on Al, a brother needs us!!
RxDawg
July 1st, 2010
1:39 pm
Oh lord…..
sex with horses.........is this the same uga fan
July 1st, 2010
1:40 pm
who was wearing bulldog pajama bottoms when he was caught having sex with horses? or was this a different uga fan?
oops my bad i should have read the article first. this is the ugay AD.
wonder if he leads the charge of drunken ugay fans to urinate in the library and on top of the stadium?
probably so…….
this is tooooooooooooooooooooooooo funny. sure hope that he hid that bag of weed real good.
as a tech fan i say that they give him a huge fat raise and a forever contract like phew hewitt has. anything or anybody who makes ugag look bad in my book is my hero.
Lisa
July 1st, 2010
1:40 pm
Someone associated with UGA atheletics arrested? Wow! Now that is news!
Peter
July 1st, 2010
1:40 pm
WOW impressive…… the UGA is looking pretty silly these days……. can’t they find any decent help ?
Pat
July 1st, 2010
1:40 pm
That Bannister guy was falsely arrested. Not saying that’s the case here. That case stunk from the beginning with deputies and sheriffs being involved. Dui’s are always city and county cops.
He should sue the police and whoever tried to set him up. It is funny how they rely on that breathalyzer in court to prove guilt and in his case they said well it must not be working. Those arrested in Gwinnett should use their excuse. It must be wrong. Gwinnett is a crooked county from the cops to the commissioners to city workers.
Football Bat
July 1st, 2010
1:41 pm
We’ve still got time to get Vince Dooley back in before the UT game…!
GT Fan
July 1st, 2010
1:41 pm
Hugo, good to know your s— doesn’t stink. And sorry, I just don’t see them getting rid of Damon Evans over this. A one game suspension against some hapless opponent would be more par for the course…
Big Al
July 1st, 2010
1:42 pm
One BAMA fan that will not pile on we have to live with the decisions we make. Hate to see this happen.
WonderDawg
July 1st, 2010
1:42 pm
“Here we go”, go crawl under a rock, scumbag. I’ve never read a bad word about Evans, even in the blogs. It’s “you” we don’t like, earthworm…
TROTTINGHOME
July 1st, 2010
1:42 pm
He looks pretty high to me
Peter
July 1st, 2010
1:42 pm
Gee I guess the brain power is limited in Athens……. with a $110,000.00 a year raise….is the guy a moron……. Get a LIMO …. or a darn Taxi !
j
July 1st, 2010
1:43 pm
Wow. The head of the thuga nation busted? what did you folks expect? even mike vick is not this dumb to be caught behind a steering wheel. that guy was stoned.
typical uga trash.
GT Fan
July 1st, 2010
1:43 pm
I’m sure it was a GT fan cop that set him up. Give me a break. Look at the mug shot..
Jay in VA
July 1st, 2010
1:43 pm
One man’s personal failing should not sully an entire institution, just as character lapses of political leaders should not demean their entire state or our nation. While many of the comments above have been measured and well considered, It’s sad that some haters take the opportunity to come out from under their rocks to spew ridicule and vitriol. This is a sad event, mostly for Damon and his family, but secondly for the university community. That some would take this opportunity to display their classless, schadenfreudistic regurgitations only reveals their paucity of character and intellect. Otherwise, their rantings are meaningless. I’m pulling for Damon to recover from this personally, and let the chips fall where they may professionally.
GO GATORS!
July 1st, 2010
1:43 pm
LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOLLOL LOL LOL LOLLOL LOL LOL LOLLOL LOL LOL LOLLOL LOL LOL LOLLOL LOL LOL LOLLOL LOL LOL LOLLOL LOL LOL LOLLOL LOL LOL LOLLOL LOL LOL LOLLOL LOL LOL LOLLOL LOL LOL LOLLOL LOL LOL LOLLOL LOL LOL LOLLOL LOL LOL LOLLOL LOL LOL LOLLOL LOL LOL LOLLOL LOL LOL LOLLOL LOL LOL LOLLOL LOL LOL LOLLOL LOL LOL LOLLOL LOL LOL LOLLOL LOL LOL LOL
Gatorzone
July 1st, 2010
1:44 pm
WonderDawg
July 1st, 2010
1:36 pm
Rumors are, Meller, the woman had 46DDs. It coulda been CPJ!
NOW THAT’S FUNNY!!!
Chris
July 1st, 2010
1:44 pm
All the schools UGA plays on the road this year should put this mug shot on their jumbotron and a message saying don’t drink and drive!! LMAO
Dollarbill
July 1st, 2010
1:45 pm
This should not be interpreted as anything more than a mistake by a good person. The other person arrested makes me go hmmmm though. Hope it is nothing more “serious” . He will get probation for two years and will not be allowed to go to any bowl games for two years. Heck he can go to Nashville or Shreveport any time he wants so that is no big deal.
WonderDawg
July 1st, 2010
1:45 pm
Fraternizing with the enemy, Meller. Can’t put up with it!!
Peter
July 1st, 2010
1:46 pm
Wait I get it…hey got his raise then got his bag of weed and an 8 ball…… no wonder he couldn’t afford the limo or cab !
I would say this guy just wasted his great opportunity……..good thing he didn’t kill anyone !
Libre
July 1st, 2010
1:46 pm
For all the people who want to make this a Tech vs. UGA thing, please shut up. Or for anyone who doesn’t like UGA for that matter. Get a life and realize this has nothing to do with any rivalry with another school. Can’t believe people take one school’s misfortune and use it to lift themselves up. For the record I went to Tech as an undergrad.
Here comes the SPIN
July 1st, 2010
1:46 pm
Thank you to the 2 who commented on my post for showing the hypocrisy from the many many many times in which UGA fans have claimed “oh our player arrest were just minor traffic violations”
DUI is a DUI whether its a player or an AD and condeming Evans shows that UGA having so many arrest many of which were DUI’s isn’t something that can be passed off as “minor traffic violations”
Maybe next time you guys will keep your mouth closed before talking smack about UF having a high number of arrest under Urban Meyer when the FACT is UGA has had MORE in the same time and the mantra of them being made up mostly of “minor traffic violations” is a bunch of BS.
gdawginkalamazoo
July 1st, 2010
1:47 pm
Pat, at least Bannister could keep his eyes open during the mug shot!
Next time Damon, take the breathalyzer, refuse the mug shot.
Bottoms up
July 1st, 2010
1:48 pm
College and drinking are like peanut butter and jelly – they go together – people like Evans are always out in the community glad-handing, raising money, raising awareness and going from one rubber chicken reception to another – alcohol is present at all these social events – alcohol is the world’s oldest social lubricant – he may have had a few too many – but in all reality the whole DUI thing is a sham and a money grab for the govt because they could have cops stake out outside every bar and restaurant in America and give out DUIs all day and night – I’m old enough to remember when there was no such thing as a DUI – get over it people – he’s not Big Ben – he will learn his lesson and be better for it
Johnny
July 1st, 2010
1:48 pm
Enter your comments here
Bawney Fwank
July 1st, 2010
1:48 pm
It’s probably a good thing he wasn’t stoned enough to consent to take a blood or urine test, because he looks toasted. He would be wise to go have a urine and blood test after he sobers up to prove he was stoned on anything else.
DrewDawg
July 1st, 2010
1:48 pm
Come on man! I’ve met this guy before and he seemed like a really nice guy! I am so ashamed, he might have to go! What makes it worse is he was committed to making UGA a perennial nat’l championship contender again! Oh well
TROTTINGHOME
July 1st, 2010
1:48 pm
He was set up by some hating scumbag…no one gets that high on their own do they?…He looks pretty high to me.
Ted Striker
July 1st, 2010
1:48 pm
DE should have refused the field sobriety test and consented to the breathalyzer. That said, this too shall pass.
Anyone else find it ironic that this comes out on the same day the DUI charges were dropped against a Gwinnett chairman (who blew a .000) and should have never been arrested for DUI?
Chad
July 1st, 2010
1:48 pm
To those who say dui is minor
tell that to Justin Griner’s family.
Disappointed DAWG
July 1st, 2010
1:48 pm
http://www.gahighwaysafety.org/StreamingVideo/gadawgs.mov
Ginger
July 1st, 2010
1:49 pm
Very embarassing…..Hate that this happened…Seems that
Evans has done ok as AD…..but you are right Mark—it will take a long time to live this down. Never was sure why Adams forced out Dooley other that he did not like him. Folks in positions of leadership are and should be held to higher standards and for Pete’s sake–go and flim a message about drunk driving and then drive drunk..Needless to say–we won’t see that message again. Just don’t like this at all….Young men need good examples…We all need good examples.
Villa Rica DAWG
July 1st, 2010
1:49 pm
I’m guessing he’ll either Deny All Knowledge and fight like hell or he’ll take a leave of absence and go to rehab – probably end up resigning or stepping down to a lower position.
What a shame. I hate to see good people make bad mistakes. He f’ed up. He’ll have to pay the price if he wants to provide an example to the thousands of young men and women who look up to him.
What a shame…
GT Fan
July 1st, 2010
1:50 pm
WonderDawg, I got $100 that says CPJ would whoop your —- . And the 46DD joke isn’t funny to begin with, unless you’re redneck trailer trash.
WonderDawg
July 1st, 2010
1:50 pm
Thanks, “Gatorzone”. We dawgs need humor right now!
“so Wonder Dog, huh?”
CJ
July 1st, 2010
1:50 pm
Atleast he wasn’t texting…
HugoStiglitz
July 1st, 2010
1:51 pm
GT Fan, if I got a DUI it would hurt my life considerably but wouldnt affect very many people outside of myself. Evans is the leader of a major athletics program. If you are in that much of a position of power and you screw up this big then you lose your position of power. Thats just how it goes. I hope he improves his life after this and learns from it but he just cant continue in his position. Its puts too much of a black mark on the program.
Dawg D
July 1st, 2010
1:51 pm
From the looks of the picture, he probably was too loaded to even find the tube to blow.
mCH
July 1st, 2010
1:51 pm
He has lost all credibility, he needs to go. How can UGA tolerate that kind of hypocrisy? The “he made a mistake” message just doesn’t fly.
Gatorzone
July 1st, 2010
1:51 pm
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/nfl/07/01/vick-shooting.ap/index.html?eref=sihp
I Bet money it was VICK!!! Paying him back for testifying against him!
Eve Dropper the cleaning lady
July 1st, 2010
1:52 pm
Excerpt from coaches meeting today in Evans office- Okay boys, batten down the hatches and keep your tater traps shut. We’ll hold them off. Sharpton is on a plane right now to Atlanta and he’ll run interference. (mumbling as though he’s still intoxicated) And oh yeah, remember the Alamo!
TROTTINGHOME
July 1st, 2010
1:52 pm
Goes to show our society is boring and sterile…You got to get that high just to not feel the hate.
DAwg Tired
July 1st, 2010
1:52 pm
Evans has done little at UGa—the athletic dept. is mediocre, UGA only wins minor league type sports like equestrian and sucks in all the major sports. This is a good opportunity for michael adams to bring in a real AD who knows what he is doing. They’ll probably have to pay evans a couple of mil on the way out or he’ll bring race charges.
another ptc dawg
July 1st, 2010
1:53 pm
This just in…..
Evans has been suspended for the first two games and is required to do 40 hours of public service work picking up trash on the North Campus on Sunday mornings.
jc
July 1st, 2010
1:53 pm
He has to go!! There has to be some leadership or is it going to be a free for all as in the past.
WonderDawg
July 1st, 2010
1:53 pm
Chill, GT Fan, I’m laughing at out AD as much as PJ. And…………Gatorzone thought it was funny, so there!!