Damon Evans’ story not one sports writers relish covering
Georgia AD Damon Evans faces a room full of reporters Thursday evening at UGA. He was charged with DUI Wednesday night. (AJC photo by Curtis Comption)
Athens – It has been a pretty long 30 hours or so. That’s about how long I’ve been following the Damon Evans story.
Normally I wouldn’t be as involved as I have since I am no longer on the UGA beat. Nowadays I cover recruiting on the AJC Recruiting Blog and my talented colleague Tim Tucker normally covers the Bulldogs for us. But Tim, like the better part of the working world it seems, is on vacation this week. So I’ve been having to fill in.
I don’t think I’m off base here in saying I don’t care much for covering stories like these. I talked yesterday to virtually every one of the Georgia beat guys and assorted TV and radio reporters, most of whom I have known a long time, over at Evans’ press conference. I can tell you in all honesty that they all feel the same way.
It was a pretty surreal scene over at the Rankin Smith Academic Achievement Center. Nobody was sure what was about to take place. A resignation? Righteous indignation? But I don’t think any of us expected the soul-bearing admission of guilt that we got.
In the course of doing our jobs, we naturally get to know well the subjects we’re covering. In the case of Evans, I’ve actually known him since he signed with Georgia as a wide receiver out of Gainesville in 1989. I’ve always been impressed at how far Damon has come since he was that tall, skinny, backup wideout for Ray Goff.
Of course, I got to know him much better in the years since he returned to UGA, first as an assistant AD and then as the director of athletics. I’ve always found him to be accessible and fairly forthright. I’ve bugged him to death over hirings and firings and disciplinary rulings such as the one that apparently is about to befall him. I’ve seen him deftly preside over board meetings and articulately speak to rooms full of UGA supporters. I’ve been awed by his knowledge of finance and his vision for UGA athletics.
But when things like this happen, all that must be brushed aside to focus objectively on the facts that are available to us and present them to the public in as unfiltered a manner as possible. And that’s what will be done in this case.
It is often said, “with success comes scrutiny.” That may be even more true with failure.
Meanwhile, PR types argue about whether or not a press conference should have been called. And if you do have one, they ask, what should be tone and content of that session? I’ve heard a few wonder whether he should have fielded questions as he did. So moral and ethical judgments aside, do you think Evans and/or UGA has handled this whole situation properly?
What say you all on that note? What were your impressions of Evans as he delivered his five-minute statement and answered questions for about the same about of time? And finally, how do you think it all affects UGA?
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141 comments Add your comment
Delbert D.
July 2nd, 2010
3:05 pm
Whatever he said at the press conference is public record and will be available at the hearing.
Papadawg
July 2nd, 2010
3:13 pm
I’m embarrassed at this situation. I can overlook, to a point, a teenager screwing up like this cause we’ve all been there but for the AD of a major university who has to be a role model for these kids to not only drink and drive but get arrested for it. How can he discipline the kids with a straight face and how many times has he done this and not get caught.
koverdawg
July 2nd, 2010
3:17 pm
There has been no “handling” on the part of UGA. I forgive Damon, but with choices come consequences. Either he should resign or UGA should let him go. By separating the “personal” from this, professionally he is damaged. As we all know, there will be players that get caught drinking/driving, breaking the law or rules and will have to be punished……. The AD will have to sign off on those punishments, suspensions and dismissals. Damon should resign; as of now, he looks to put the decision on Mr. Adams-seeking a personal attorney to advise him. Here is free advice-leave with your head up and let the players, coaches and fans continue to look ahead…not back.
Nahila
July 2nd, 2010
3:22 pm
This is a shame for this to happen to Damon, he has had the world at his feet, done an outstanding job filling the role of Athletic Director of UGA and had to walk in the shoes of Vince Dooley no small task indeed. There is no joy in Mudville as they say nor in and around the Bulldog world. All the circumstances will in time come out and the powers that be will make the final decision on whether Damon is granting a second chance but duly put on probation and salary increase taken away, or to ask for his resignation and accept it rather than be fired. Hopefully, a second opportunity to make things right will not only be granted by UGA but also Damon’s wife and family.
georgia87
July 2nd, 2010
3:24 pm
Damon has been an excellent AD leading UGA to become one of the most enviable Athletic Departments in the nation. I wish that he had immediately taken a leave of absence/suspension until President Adams could look at the facts. It would’ve shown that he understood the seriousness of the situation instead of looking like he was going to put the onus on the President to fire him. If it were handled that way, I could see giving him a second chance after a period of restoration. Now, I am not sure. It seems that he has backed Adams into a corner, and that usually doesn’t end well.
defactodawg
July 2nd, 2010
3:26 pm
I am not one to judge the resolution of this case and the impact on Mr. Evans career. From a PR perspective, I totally agree with his decision to publicly apologize and to take questions.
Had Tiger Woods acted in a similar fashion when his troubles broke, he would’ve been perceived in an entirely different light.
Evans chose to confront the story head-on by acknowledging his transgression. Tiger hid from the prying eyes of his fans and the media, leaving them all to write the story.
Regardless of the outcome, I wish Mr. Evans well and hope he can be forgiven by those who matter but most importantly he can forgive himself and not allow this mistake to have a negative impact on the rest of his career and life.
Dawglasville
July 2nd, 2010
3:35 pm
The whole thing is crummy. The AJC has done a fair job covering it. They didn’t focus on the girl in the car because no one knows who she is. Your comments are really nice. Bradley did his job and I’m pretty sure he likes Damon. For most Georgia fans this is a punch in the gut. Most people were really proud when he was hired. I give him total credit for Fox. Adams has to decide if he can do his job now. How much will his home life impact his job? Now you have to take the AD out of the public eye for a while. Is that a good thing? I don’t think he is going to make it. I think Damon should step down and not drag the University through all of this. He made the situation. He should take some time off on and start rebuilding his life.
UGA_2001
July 2nd, 2010
3:44 pm
It is amazing how low the bar has been for Damon Evans when I read pieces like this. It is almost like sportswriters are surprised he can speak well and preside over board meetings.
He’s the AD, for god’s sake. Those are minimum requirements for any administrative job in a major ath program.
That said, he was not doing a very good job as AD. Almost every program was slipping and he didn’t seem to be in control, more like a figurehead for Adams and bigtime boosters to control. I never really thought I was getting Evans’ decision on anything. It was more like he was passing down orders.
SEC fan
July 2nd, 2010
3:45 pm
This saga has the most IRONY I’ve seen in a long time.
Married AD of “flagship” university charged with DUI and has a young woman with him at the time. President of “flagship” university’s biggest supporter/guard dog on the Board of Regents is state’s largest liquor distributor. Said member on Board of Regents has open affair with Gymnastics coach for years, while still being married to wife, Betsy.
Kettle meet Pot.
Sure makes “flagship” university look like it’s run by a bunch of good ole Southern goobers. Tough to be too self-righteous when one considers who is calling the shots at “flagship” university.
Evans needs to go and if Board of Regents had any cojones they’d clean house with Adams and remove Leebern for a fresh start.
Time for a fresh ethical start for “flagshp” university.
destin dawg
July 2nd, 2010
3:48 pm
he had second chance ( chances? ) already.. if he had any character at all, he would have resigned… 1st balck AD. in SEC.. 1/2 million $$$$$$.. MARRIED ..personal responsibility please… Leader ??? role model ?? Tiger.. OJ..
Browndog
July 2nd, 2010
3:49 pm
Don’t see any way he will be able to weather this storm. Papadawg is right,,,,,a mistake by a kid is one thing, but drunk driving by the AD is something else entirely. Evans knew he was taking a chance driving the car after drinking and made the decision to do so. Don’t know how the woman figures into this but it is all bad. No way he stays. Adams will have to let him go.
Reid Adair
July 2nd, 2010
3:54 pm
Unfortunately these days, it seems folks with that attitude are in the minority. Too many “reporters” go hunting stories like this.
Dixie Clear
July 2nd, 2010
3:56 pm
UGA is a complete and total JOKE! I hope they keep this guy forever. They deserve each other.
asheville dawg
July 2nd, 2010
3:57 pm
Yes sir, SEC fan, you couldn’t even try to make up the story lines on this situation. Truth is really stranger than fiction. This saga will beat Jerry Springer any day.
UG OH, this bad
July 2nd, 2010
3:58 pm
I agree with “Dawglasville”. This is sad; an AD pretty much has that job for life
if they do their job. Evans put all that on the line to hustle some broad and then get busted for a DUI. If you think she was just a friend, then I have a nice piece
of property with an ocean view in Ohio.
An honorable man would resign, but we shall see.
Joe
July 2nd, 2010
4:01 pm
Stop the bleeding Adams–get rid of him NOW.
3 time UGA grad
Dawg Whisperer
July 2nd, 2010
4:02 pm
Honesty is always the best policy. It takes humility and confidence in the way one views self. If that is the barometer of Damon’s press conference, he passed the test.
BehindEnemyLines
July 2nd, 2010
4:06 pm
While I like this particular column overall & think it’s an appropriate subject for discussion, your comment about how “I don’t think any of us expected the soul-bearing admission of guilt that we got” really shocked me. Seriously? You expected this to be anything other than a large mea culpa as he tries to save his job? I don’t see that he had any other realistic option but that one, anything else – combative, stone-faced, evasive, what have you – would have been a career-ender in my opinion. And that isn’t to say the incident itself won’t be, but any of those would have likely sealed his fate. I strongly question the decision to have Evans’ take questions afterwards but suspect that was a way for Pres. Adams to let him suffer a bit more for causing this mess in the first place. I thought the AJC coverage has been pretty good overall, it was certainly interesting to hear how Atlanta radio personalities with close UGA ties handled the situation yesterday afternoon as well. It was also interesting to hear how Athens sports-talk handled the matter, considering their own DUI-related embarrassment with a personality with UGA connections about a year ago.
jerry
July 2nd, 2010
4:09 pm
UGA is in a no win situation-kind of like Florida.
Chip Towers
July 2nd, 2010
4:09 pm
To the person who wrote in under the name of another SEC football coach, that’s unacceptable and your post was deleted as a result. But to answer your question, I thought a press conference would be called for two reasons: (1) To announce his resignation; or (2) to proclaim his innocence. Not for Damon to tell everybody he’s sorry that he has brought shame to his family and the university. That was unexpected. And of course there is sympathy among reporters for fallen figures. There’s nothing homer about that. We’re human beings.
Please feel free to re-submit your comment in which you are not posing as someone you are not because I appreciate your opinion. You can even use your real name if you wish.
Peter Zogby
July 2nd, 2010
4:10 pm
Evans did the “stand up” thing and took responsibility for his actions, while still preserving his legal rights in the criminal proceeding. Most lay people do not understand the legal tightrope an accused has to walk.
They are quick to condemn and chastise.
A broader view of this sad case is that both UGA and Evans lose if he is gone, whether by reisignation or firing. No one disputes the fabulous job he has done in up grading and securing financially the entire athletic program. As AD he is the “out front” man for a multi-million dollar operation.
The ideal scenario that would resolve the problem and not do unnecessary harm to UGA and Evans would be for him to tender his resignation which demonstrates his acknowlegement of the harm his actions have done to UGA and all of UGA community. In response the University should refuse to accept
it, demonstrating its role as a sensible and compassionate employer that is aware of all the “good” this
AD has done up to now. Additionally UGA should demote Evans to a position in the athletic administration where his proven financial expertise remains beneficial to the University, thereby keeping a proven performer on board. The new position should have no “public” or titular responsibilities, and the
pay scale should be peeled back to that of a assistant AD with an additonal loss of 1/2 of time built up toward seniority.
To liken this situation to that of a student-athlete arrested for DUI doesn’t take into account too many factors that do not exist in the student case.
Besides sad, this is very complex and to Mr. Evans’ credi,t he is treating it in a forthright manner up to now.
OldFan
July 2nd, 2010
4:10 pm
Let’s look at this from Evans’ point of view. The damage to his character has already been done. He was clever to speak as directly and quickly as he did and not resign at that moment. He’s said he wants to keep his half-million dollar a year job, being the repentitent soul that he is. He now realizes that it’s the University’s charater that’s going to be called into question. There’s much greater complexity in the decision for UGA than there was for Evans when he climbed into his BMW Wednesday night. His choice was a simple one between right and wrong. UGA’s choice must weigh all the puts and takes, all the real and imagined consequences, all the racial speculations, and all the explanations that will follow any decision. Evans has, if nothing else, an aptitude for self-preservation.
Tom
July 2nd, 2010
4:10 pm
Let’s see, we have “Rankin Smith” and “Achievement” linked together on one building, and the name of a known womanizer and drunk on the athletic HQ building.
You can’t make this stuff up.
Fez
July 2nd, 2010
4:14 pm
Anyone else hear of the new reports regarding the “friend” getting out of the car with no pants on??
Walton Dog
July 2nd, 2010
4:14 pm
Say you’re Damon Evans, you need to go down to the Butts-Mehre second floor offices of the football coaches and staff. Mrs. Mettenberger works there……..What do you say to her?
Jo
July 2nd, 2010
4:16 pm
Oh please!!! What exactly has Evans done that is “outstanding” as AD???
Georgia State Patrol
July 2nd, 2010
4:17 pm
Operation
ZERO-TOLERANCE
YOU DRINK AND DRIVE. YOU LOSE
Where have I seen that before, oh, I remember. We see it
at every home game on the jumbotron. My god, that’s Damon Evans on the screen.
What a tangled web we weave. See ya Damon.
Tom
July 2nd, 2010
4:20 pm
Say you’re Damon Evans, you need to go down to the Butts-Mehre second floor offices of the football coaches and staff. Mrs. Mettenberger works there……..What do you say to her?
“Hey, Tammy? You guys got a spare room or a sofa where I can crash for awhile? Maybe a week….or seven?”
L
July 2nd, 2010
4:21 pm
I wonder where his wife thought he was. Just friends, that’s a crock. Those two look wasted out of their minds in their mugshots. I say fire him. I don’t want him representing my school.
Omar
July 2nd, 2010
4:21 pm
Thankfully, this nasty little incident will not in any way impair the future aspirations of Damon Evans to run for President of the United States as a DEMOCRAT.
Ted Kennedy could not be reached for comment on this story, as AT&T Wireless apparently does not yet have a coverage area that reaches the Eternal Lake of Fire.
dog789xyz
July 2nd, 2010
4:22 pm
Enter your comments here
Zach
July 2nd, 2010
4:24 pm
mettenbergers wasn’t kicked off just for the alcohol. he sexually assaulted a woman. i do agree damon has to go. you can’t be saying not to do one thing, puinishing those that do and then get arrested doing the same thing. adios damon, ya loser.
Bill Cosby
July 2nd, 2010
4:25 pm
Personal Responsibility…. AD needs to be a leader of young men… Role model for student/athleles !!
Eric
July 2nd, 2010
4:26 pm
Papa some of my friends have told me that Damon has been in trouble before but it happened in Athens and what happens in Athens, stayed in Athens. This is what happens when you step out of your safe comfort zone.
Mike
July 2nd, 2010
4:27 pm
Anyone watching uruguay ghana?
We should have beat this team with one good striker. And we could be uruguay too. Oh well. Looking forward to football season. Go dawgs, get lost Damon.
Nashville Dawg
July 2nd, 2010
4:31 pm
Bottom line: He needs to go. Let’s quit with the whole discussion on what he has done for the program/university and let’s steer away from the talk on what type of person he may or may not be deep down inside. He is in a role where students, fans, and others in the public look up to him. I am a big believer in giving people a second chance…however, you do not get second chances for stuff like this when you’re an AD at Georgia. It is sad…..for everyone. However, the facts of this case are simple: He broke the law and completely let us down. He needs to now step down. End of story…..
DawgDad
July 2nd, 2010
4:37 pm
At this point I’ve seen no substantive comment from University leaders on this issue. Are they by virtue of their silence and inaction telling us Evans, a State emloyee, is being paid $500,000+ to be in a position of leadership over all these young people and DOES NOT have a morals clause in his contract? Who in State government is holding the University leaders accountable for their reckless oversight of the interests of the State and taxpayers?
How is it possible Evans has not at least been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of these charges?
My heart bleeds for Evans’ family. My heart DOES NOT bleed for the suffering incurred by you sportswriters GETTING PAID to cover this. What a crock.
archangeladidas
July 2nd, 2010
4:37 pm
To all of you garbagedawgs that unleashed hell on Carlos Dunlap last December I say WOW! Be carefully when you past judgement because karma is a mother. GO GATORS!!!
Lou
July 2nd, 2010
4:38 pm
Nahila..this didn’t happen TO Damon. He brought this on himself. This was not an outside force beyond his control affecting his life. This is about HIS poor decision making.
He has done an incredible job as AD with the great fiscal shape the Athletic Association is in. His continuation of Vince Dooley’s vision to constantly upgrade and improve facilities has proceeded on steady course. He has made good decisions with the hiring and firing of coaches.
BUT…He can no longer do his job effectively with this arrest. As AD at an institution of higher learning where he needs to set a good example for student-atheltes, he must go. People in other careers who get a DUI may have different professional circumstances. They may be able to keep their jobs. His job is different. There is a higher standard required. He must go.
gg
July 2nd, 2010
4:42 pm
Take away his raise.
Suspend him with pay while the case is resolved in court and he gets his personal life together.
Bring in an interim AD. Perhaps Vince would come back and keep things going.
Let everything settle down and make a rational decision a few months down the road.
He cannot serve as AD while all of this plays out. In view of all he has done for UGA prior to this, and for the sake of his family, he deserves an opportunity to see if he can redeem himself and be restored to his position.
AltamahaDawg
July 2nd, 2010
4:43 pm
As I said yesterday, the University is handling it as well as possible. Firing Evans as soon as the story broke is a knee jerk reaction, and not a calculated move to do what is best for the University. And there is nothing wrong with allowing Evans to come away with whatever best chance he has to recover down the raod.
Evans could have been fired on the spot and thus cemeting the story as one of UGA guy screws up. Thats chosing to absorb the worst possible damage. Or take a breath, handle it carefully and turn the story around to highlight the standards that UGA insist on for its guy.
Then of cource the story turns to the search for a new AD who can (once again the focus) live up to the UGA standards.
The university will not be harmed by this, if handled properly and in the end may very well be used as a constant example of what Evans (what supposed to be) teaching the boys.
And we get an upgrade in the AD.
Ronnie
July 2nd, 2010
4:43 pm
The drunk driving is bad enough. Add in he’s married with children and he’s out in buckhead with a single ho. That’s just as big imo.He’s a role model and is suppose to lead by example. He can no longer do this job with this on his resume. Like the other poster, I am shocked they haven’t place him on admin leave and also shocked his ridic press conf yesterday was to say sorry. Be a man and resign. But he’s not a man. He’s a low life loser hypocrite.
dagnabit
July 2nd, 2010
4:45 pm
I’m still waiting for dawgfan and all the other dawggies to tee off on Damon. Where are you? It’s a good thing that in the future I’ll get to bring this up over and over again when you dawggies vilify my tech team’s mistakes. This will never go away.
Karma
July 2nd, 2010
4:46 pm
Dear Gator Fan,
Please keep my name out of your mouth. You’ll have plenty of me in the upcoming years.
Truly yours,
Karma
secondguesser
July 2nd, 2010
4:48 pm
The guy rose too fast too far. I couldn’t believe they hired him when they did. He’s at a crossroads with his life. Hope he decides to live the rest of it productively.
Bama in Atlanta
July 2nd, 2010
4:48 pm
Let’s see how bad Mr. Evans wants his job and is willing to accept consequenses…….not only do you take away his $110,000/yr raise that put him at $550,000/yr, but give him the average salary of the UGA college professors who have been employed with the university as long as Mr. Evans has. Take the excess $$ that UGA would have paid him and contribute that money to various drunk driving educational organizations. If he is willing to do this for 3 to 5 years then he can bring his salary up to match the lowest level SEC AD for another 3 to 5 years. Talk is cheap…..put your money where your mouth is!
Cm
July 2nd, 2010
4:49 pm
Don’t be surprised to see some recruits change their mind and sign somewhere else. It will happen.
Mikey
July 2nd, 2010
4:50 pm
He’s the one with the commercial….ZERO TOLERANCE. YOU DRINK AND DRIVE. YOU LOSE.
Damon. You lost. Real simple. Hate it but you need to go. Good luck in the future. I can forgive you but you have lost any respect that you had to lead the student athletes at the University of Georgia.
Whatever makes you happy Tech Fan
July 2nd, 2010
4:51 pm
Hey dagnabit, a win next year will wash whatever comments you have on this topic. Good try though.
the former Mrs Evans
July 2nd, 2010
4:53 pm
I only had 3 rules for that scumbag No Hookers No Hookers No Hookers
The State of Alabama
July 2nd, 2010
4:54 pm
Bama in Atlanta
July 2nd, 2010
4:48 pm
Let’s see how bad Mr. Evans wants his job and is willing to accept consequenses…….not only do you take away his $110,000/yr raise that put him at $550,000/yr, but give him the average salary of the UGA college professors who have been employed with the university as long as Mr. Evans has. Take the excess $$ that UGA would have paid him and contribute that money to various drunk driving educational organizations. If he is willing to do this for 3 to 5 years then he can bring his salary up to match the lowest level SEC AD for another 3 to 5 years. Talk is cheap…..put your money where your mouth is!
Talk IS cheap. I pay the head football coach WAY more than any other person in Alabama.
Florida State Patrol
July 2nd, 2010
4:54 pm
archangeladidas
July 2nd, 2010
To all of you garbagedawgs that unleashed hell on Carlos Dunlap last December I say WOW! Be carefully when you past judgement because karma is a mother. GO GATORS!!!
RIGHT ON
Senator Blutarski
July 2nd, 2010
4:55 pm
A-hem…George W. Bush had a DUI and was later elected President of the United States. I’m pretty sure he was a Republican and not a Democrat.
Mikey SAV
July 2nd, 2010
4:58 pm
This is, as many have said, not fodder for attempted humor.
It is sad and there’s nothing funny about it I don’t care who your team is.
Mikey SAV
July 2nd, 2010
4:59 pm
It really is sad. no humor in that.
Bama in Atlanta
July 2nd, 2010
4:59 pm
State of Alabama: you’re not even making a point. The Bama head coach won a national championship and the UGA AD got caught drunk driving. If Saban got caught drunk driving I would be all for slashing the salary as well.
Dawglover
July 2nd, 2010
5:03 pm
Damon has done an excellent job but he has stepped(driven)way-over-the-line. Goodbye Damon, and I wish you well in your future endeavors.
Florida State Patrol
July 2nd, 2010
5:05 pm
secondguesser
July 2nd, 2010
4:48 pm
The guy rose too fast too far. I couldn’t believe they hired him when they did. He’s at a crossroads with his life. Hope he decides to live the rest of it productively.
That’s called the Peter Principle (no pun intended). Damon rose to a level of incompetence.
Ace
July 2nd, 2010
5:06 pm
Nice job, they don’t fall far from the tree.
Linda
July 2nd, 2010
5:10 pm
As a UGA alum, I say Evans should be given a second chance. He humbly took responsibility for his actions and apologized immediately. Everyone makes mistakes & needs a chance to redeem themselves. He has had a stellar record and has been very successful as AD and 1 slip up should not undo all that. I know of many public figures who have been charged with DUI, but were not terminated. He can use himself as an example of what not to do. I know of a headmaster at a private school in Augusta, GA (an upscale CHristian school) who got a DUI and he survived it and kept his job, even though he has to be a role model for young children and teenagers as their headmaster. One error should not cost someone their career, especially if they have a pristine record as Evans does.
You got to be kidding!
July 2nd, 2010
5:11 pm
I hope the rest of the “Florida State Patrol” is smarter than the one who posts on here. “Incompetence”? He has run one of the top programs in the country with great skill. What happened on the road is “stupidity”, not incompetence. Jeez!
Florida State Patrol
July 2nd, 2010
5:12 pm
If you look at the video of his press conference, you see no real emotion, just a well
given speech. Appeared only to try and keep his job. Very similar to Obama’s speeches, says nothing believable, just trying to keep his job.
Ringleader
July 2nd, 2010
5:18 pm
Saban has already had his record cleaned by the Tuscaloosa Police. He wrecked his Mercedes on his way home one night after midnight, had a wrecker from Mobile immediately dispatched to pick up the remains barely before daylight, and the Tuscaloosa PD did not make any incident report, much less question Saban.
yoda
July 2nd, 2010
5:18 pm
Sad day for the young man, sad day for UGA, but a really really sad day for wife and kids!!!
Just damn.
Grandpa Right (once of Cochran)
July 2nd, 2010
5:21 pm
OMG!!!!!!! Has anyone read the arrest report? Evans tried to use his position to get out of the ticket, and then CRIED LIKE A BABY.
But THAT isn’t the kicker. The arresting officer noted that Evans HAD A PAIR OF RED PANTIES BETWEEN HIS LEGS!!!!!!!
He can no longer credibly lead our AA. He has to go and he has to go FAST.
This is a sad, sad story.
SILLY UGA FANS
July 2nd, 2010
5:28 pm
For all the UGA fans that loved to throw Joe Hamilton’s situation in our faces (GT fans) I’m just wondering how this sits with you? Atleast he had the schools colors in mind when choosing what panties to have in his lap. If your schools president does not fire this guy quick, fast, and in a hurry it sends one hell of a message to all your students and will make any decision he makes towards student/athlete alcohol related events questionable.
Jo
July 2nd, 2010
5:30 pm
Still waiting – what has Evans DONE as AD – except be Adams’ puppet and being known for no integrity and womanizing.
PMC
July 2nd, 2010
5:32 pm
I try not to be one to talk about people needing to lose thier jobs but I’m not sure how you can ever be respected in that position in the way the position needs to command respect after an incident like that.
For his sake I hope he gets to prove himself if that’s even possible… or manages to get a job elsewhere if Georgia has to let him go.
Lethal Weapon Three
July 2nd, 2010
5:32 pm
Jan Kemp, Jim Harrack, and Damon Evans — The real Lethal Weapon 3. “Cesspool of the South” doesn’t even begin to describe UGA’s Athletic Department. What a legacy!
murray county mystic
July 2nd, 2010
5:33 pm
guess ya’ll gonna give Vince the job back…hilarious! Hate it for Damon though. He was correct in getting UGA to schedule better out-of-conference games. God knows you needed the push after years of Vince’s Ga. Southern, Citadel, Southern Conference game of the week snoozers. Florida, Bama and LSU can get away with that because they are national programs. UT made itself a national program by stepping up big outside the conference. UGA needs to do that as much as it possibly can. There is NO national buzz with this program. Outside of Georgia, no one talks about the Georgia Bulldogs. Unless, of course, they wear black jerseys and helmets and get their azzes handed to them on national tv….
API1960
July 2nd, 2010
5:33 pm
I am an Auburn grad and I feel for the man. Maybe all of you have lived a perfect life, but I have been knocked around a few times, done some deeds that have remained undisclosed and have lived a great life. I hope Damon learns from this and that he is given the benefit of the doubt by those close to him.
PMC
July 2nd, 2010
5:34 pm
If Ray Nagin can get re elected though… I mean at least Damon Evans was doing a good job at work anyway.
Trey
July 2nd, 2010
5:34 pm
LMAO
Evans to cop: ‘I am not trying to bribe you’
New details: UGA AD was crying, smelled of alcohol, report says.
Dixie Clear
July 2nd, 2010
5:35 pm
Had a pair of RED PANTIES between his legs!!!!…CRYING UNCONTROLLABLY…. This just can’t get any better. If I owned ant crap with that big G on it i’d burn it now!
HOW ‘BOUT THEM DOGS!!!!
PMC
July 2nd, 2010
5:35 pm
Jo – Damon Evans has presided over an incredibly profitable athletic department and has made decisions that have helped to make it more profitable.
Tide Roll
July 2nd, 2010
5:35 pm
this is great. Red panties between his legs. Uga will never live this down. Goober Perdue, Adams and Uga try to pretend they’re better than everyone else. How many deserving kids have applied to the place and been rejected? it’s a horrble school in a horrible state. What a bunch of nasty rednecks.
Bama fan
July 2nd, 2010
5:36 pm
Ringleader,
Your story about Saban wrecking his car and having his record cleaned by the Tuscaloosa pd is completely bogus.
Cm
July 2nd, 2010
5:36 pm
Like I said, there will be some parents who decide they don’t want their kid to go to uga. It will happen and will be entirely justified.
Legend of Len Barker
July 2nd, 2010
5:37 pm
As a current UGA student, he should step down as AD. I don’t care if Adams has to fire him or he resigns.
With the added details that are currently on main page of the AJC, this is beyond a little mistake. Being busted for public intoxication is a little mistake. A man who is one of the bigtime faces of a bigtime university decides to operate a motor vehicle while drunk, with a woman in the passenger seat that isn’t his wife and leads to all kind of speculation as to the exact nature of their relationship (or “relationship”), he attempts drunkenly to bribe police, his passenger gets belligerent to the point that she’s arrested, and it’s noted that there are a pair of red panties in his lap.
This beyond Mike Price territory and he was fired. Mike Price also broke no laws and wouldn’t have been found out if he had stayed at a no-tell motel.
Anything less than dismissal paints Georgia as a university who stands for all of these things. Which doesn’t mean that these things don’t happen in Athens (or Bogart or Watkinsville). This would mean that the university thinks all of these things are A-OK for people in such high positions.
(And if you folks want the original wild UGA scandal, look up the case of Dean John Drewry.)
SEC fan
July 2nd, 2010
5:38 pm
At least Damon was staying true to the school colors of state’s “flagship” university!
Evans was flippant when first pulled over, according to the trooper. “The subject said ‘I feel pretty good,’ ” states the incident report. The trooper noted that Evans had a pair of red panties in between his legs.”
As Asheville Dawg says, you just can’t make this tuff up. LMFAO!
Don
July 2nd, 2010
5:38 pm
At least the panties weren’t orange or gold
API1960
July 2nd, 2010
5:38 pm
Aren’t the two inputs from UAT just what you would expect? Nothing more needs to be said, as they sid it all.
Jo
July 2nd, 2010
5:40 pm
PMC – Define profitable please – and exactly how did they make money – have you ever checked that?????????? Are you familiar with the Endowment Funds or what the current contribution rates are??? My comment stands Evans does nothing without Adams – nothing. The plan for the AD Dept was laid out long ago and by NOT by Evans
Jacket Backer
July 2nd, 2010
5:41 pm
red panties between his legs?? are you kidding me??? this is priceless…
sharecropper
July 2nd, 2010
5:42 pm
Don’t be so condescending. Of course you enjoy covering stories like this. Any reporter worth his salt would. Just man up and admit it. and report the hell out of it.
Greg
July 2nd, 2010
5:42 pm
Just a friend huh Damon? Just a friend? You lying piece of garbage. Get the he11 out of Athens and the UGA. You disgraced uga and your family.
Tom
July 2nd, 2010
5:44 pm
How do you feel uga fans knowing that not only is your ad a drunk idiot but also a liar.
Dean
July 2nd, 2010
5:47 pm
Good luck selling your athens house in this market damon. Adios mofo.
SEC fan
July 2nd, 2010
5:49 pm
AltamahaDawg -
“The university will not be harmed by this,…”
Are you kidding me? Just follow the Adams/Leeburn/Yoculan behavior and acceptance thereof.
You don’t think your “flagship” university is becoming even more of a joke, especially letting this drag on?
The Board of Regents needs to step in and do some serious housecleaning to send a message and try to regain at least some credibility.
Delbert D.
July 2nd, 2010
5:50 pm
“given the benefit of the doubt”
What doubt? Are there even more sordid details yet to be disclosed?
Ted Striker
July 2nd, 2010
5:51 pm
If it were my decision, I’d keep Evans and weather the storm. Period.
Bama fan
July 2nd, 2010
5:51 pm
archangeladidas,
We had to put up with the same jabs and taunts and jokes about Mike Price and his firing from dawg fans for years. And Price didn’t even break the law or endanger folks by driving drunk. All he did was embarrass the university by having a skanky stripper in his room and that’s pretty much it.
Now that the shoe is on the other foot I don’t think we’ll be hearing any more dawg fans making references to Mike Price anymore. But I take no delight in what has happened to Damon Evans. The whole thing is very sad. Very unfortunate and I feel for the man.
On the other hand there has to be a serious level of accountability with a job that pays a half million a year and has that level of responsibility. On top of the arrest itself is the sordidness of being with a woman other than his wife at midnight and having a pair of red panties in his lap which were obviously hers.
In one of the AJC blogs yesterday it was said that she had several arrests for prostitution. Not sure if that’s true or not but if so then this is really, really embarrassing. The crying uncontrollably bit doesn’t help either.
While I feel for Mr. Evans the classy, dignified thing to do would have been to come completely clean, apologize for embarrassing UGA, and then gracefully step down and resign. I’m surprised that he hasn’t done this and if I were a dawg fan I would be deeply disappointed that he hasn’t done the right thing and resign. The bottom line is that his conduct is unbecoming his position and that if he doesn’t step down then the university president has to fire him. And quickly.
dawgfan
July 2nd, 2010
5:52 pm
SILLY UGA FANS, how does this sit with us? We are obviously humiliated Captain Clueless. What planet are you on? We throw things like Joe Hamilton in your acne ridden faces because you’re a bunch of arrogant, self-righteous, holier than thou, hypocritical snobs. Your **** stinks just as bad as anyone else’s, but you’re just too in love with yourselves to know it. THAT’S why we bring up the Joe Hamilton’s and Reuben Houston’s of your illustrious past Techie. You’re a bunch of damn phonies.
Bob Horner had a sweet compact swing
July 2nd, 2010
5:52 pm
Red panties…she’s a dwag fan…Go Dawgs!!!!
Dixie
July 2nd, 2010
5:54 pm
UGA…what a bunch of losers…..what parent would let their kid go to this pathetic excuse for a university….Total embarrassment to this state.
If I was the State Trooper
July 2nd, 2010
5:55 pm
I would have smelled his right hand middle finger…..but that’s just me…
Beach Dawg
July 2nd, 2010
5:56 pm
“RED PANTIES between his legs!!!!” At least they were not gold!
Unfortunately, there’s obviously more to the story than DUI – female who’s not spouse, midnight, 70 miles from home, I think that he has to go
Jacketbacker
July 2nd, 2010
5:56 pm
RED PANTIES BETWEEN HIS LEGS!!!! you leghumpers will NEVER live this down, doesn’t matter how many games your football team wins..
Go Jackets and THWG!!!!
Red Panties
July 2nd, 2010
5:57 pm
That sonic boom you just heard in Athens was the result of the “red panties”
hitting on Adam’s desk.
Like some baseball announcer, Adam’s said, “It’s (Damon) it’s outa here.”
Bob Horner had asweet compact swing
July 2nd, 2010
6:00 pm
I thought vodka was “oderless..”..???
Delbert D.
July 2nd, 2010
6:03 pm
With this already on nbcsports.com, you can bet Jay Leno is going to jump all over it.
NOBODYYOUKNOW
July 2nd, 2010
6:03 pm
All you other fans from other schools need to control your nasty comments. I’ve been around many years, followed college ball a long time and I will garentee you some embarrassing situation will happen somewhere else in the future. So lets keep a civil lid on it. I feel for the guy and his family, however I think he needs to go.
Beach Dawg
July 2nd, 2010
6:03 pm
Oh by the way, what if it had been one of the coaches and not the AD — how soon would that coach have been on the unemployed roles!! I would hope that the decisions are based on the seriousness of the incident and that the fact that he is a minority does not preclude doing the right thing!!
Tide Roll
July 2nd, 2010
6:04 pm
Georgia Fans Let me help you on this. It’s not a coincidence that the hag was wearing red panties. They are more than likely a gift from Evans. She’s his girlfriend you morons. Nasty school run by nasty prople. Where’s the lysol.
Atlantan
July 2nd, 2010
6:05 pm
Tom nails it – you can make up this kind of irony. Damon apologizes for essentially acting like Rankin Smith in the Rankin Smith center funny stuff.
As a Uga grad I think he should resign or be terminated. He exhibited terrible judgment and should have to pay the consequences. I forgive him as most people do – he didn’t do anything that hurt me frankly. However he will need to pull a Franchione or George O’Leary and start over in another place. Chip is right it isn’t fun to watch people self-destruct.
Bob Horner had asweet compact swing
July 2nd, 2010
6:06 pm
Tide Roll…Damon makes $500K/yr…he can do better than panties…ummm I’m thinking jewelry….come on man…this aint Alabama…..
Bill
July 2nd, 2010
6:06 pm
Thank Goodness her underwear was Red and not Orange!!!
Best of Atlanta
July 2nd, 2010
6:07 pm
—————————————–
…Joshua Nesbitt for Heisman…
—————————————–
Red Panties
July 2nd, 2010
6:08 pm
Bob Horner had asweet compact swing
July 2nd, 2010
6:00 pm
I thought vodka was “oderless..”..???
It is, until it starts coming out of your skin, which means he had
quit abit more than 3 vodkias.
Bob Horner had asweet compact swing
July 2nd, 2010
6:09 pm
Thanks Red Panties…I was trying to play lawyer….my bad
WestOfAthens
July 2nd, 2010
6:12 pm
Damon Evans made a tremendous lapse in judgement. Who can argue?
Some comments posted here are simply repulsive. Maybe you people need to look in the mirror as well.
Sickening
Bob Horner had asweet compact swing
July 2nd, 2010
6:13 pm
Atlantan …ummm the guys you mentioned could “coach”….Damon is an administrator….he’s screwed…he was lucky to have the job in the first place….ever heard of the “Scarlet Letter”…by Nathaniel Hawthorne…I don’t mean to get all dramatic but Evans is screwed…sux to be him….
Tyler
July 2nd, 2010
6:14 pm
Well you’re an idiot then Ted and I certainly wouldn’t want you in any upper level mgmt position.
lud
July 2nd, 2010
6:15 pm
For the good of the entire SEC, this two-faced drunken crybaby needs to be fired immediately.
I hope that we see him on the Cheaters TV show in the near future.
Delbert D.
July 2nd, 2010
6:15 pm
There’s an updated blog with police report details.
Dawgs2010
July 2nd, 2010
6:15 pm
“Evans had a pair of red panties in between his legs.”
Enough said.
Game Over!
Go to Jail….Do not pass GO. Do not collect $550,000.
Reptiles Rule
July 2nd, 2010
6:16 pm
Lets see…the police report stated he had the young ladies red panties between his legs when he was pulled over. Then he threw out the fact that he was the A.D. of UGA in an apparent effort to get excused for his DUI. Hmmmmm…as you guys love to say….and you want to keeps this guy?? He has/will make you the laughingstock of every school if he stays on. The damage is already bad enough. It’s a sad story…..
lud
July 2nd, 2010
6:18 pm
I guess Earl Butz was right after all.
HAHAHAHAHAHA
Beach Dawg
July 2nd, 2010
6:20 pm
In a taped message that appears during every UGA home game, Evans tells fans, “If you drink and drive, you lose.”
Enough said — he no longer has credibility!!
Bob Horner had asweet compact swing
July 2nd, 2010
6:23 pm
Gosh…the more I think about it he must have been hammered..once you see the blue lights behind you should put the red panties under your seat….right..???
'tween the hedges
July 2nd, 2010
6:23 pm
At least, he was not with another man between his legs like some the GTers in Midtown.
And to Dixie hag, we will C R U S H, and I mean CRUSH GT between the hedges
Red Panties
July 2nd, 2010
6:30 pm
Adam’s should give Evan’s until Monday to honorably resign, if he doesn’t,
Adam’s should tell Damon, don’t let the door hit you in the a$$ on the way out.
If Evans stays, Georgia will be the laughing stock of the SEC, as well as the nation
for decades. Even leaving, the ghost of Evans will haunt UGA for years to come.
Red Panties
July 2nd, 2010
6:31 pm
Bob Horner had asweet compact swing
July 2nd, 2010
6:23 pm
Gosh…the more I think about it he must have been hammered..once you see the blue lights behind you should put the red panties under your seat….right..???
GOOD POINT!
Old School
July 2nd, 2010
6:40 pm
Even though I am a life-long Tech fan, I see this as a sad situation. From what I have seen and heard Evans appeared to be an excellent AD and a class person. But—we all have feet of clay, and consequences must be paid. I would be shocked if negotiations are underway—if not already completed—in which Evans’s attorney gets with one of UGA’s legal eagles and a financial deal will be arranged in which he resigns. If he refuses—which I think would be unfathomable—he will be fired. This is the way these things work. Mark it down: it will happen and will be announced tomorrow or no later than Monday. That is the only way this can pan out. He might have survived the DUI with a few penalties—despite the hypocrisy angle. But the “red panties” and his comments referenced in police report did him. Way, way too much to overcome.
AltamahaDawg
July 2nd, 2010
7:37 pm
Um no SEC fan I’m not kidding. A month from now , nobody in this room will give a damn. Most the country doesnt give a damn today. If this were the AD at Auburn it wouldnt get an hours worth of attention from our fans. AND You are in here taking whatever shots you can at UGA on a daily basis, long before this, so I really don’t give a damn what you think anyway.
The University of Georgia didn’t go get a DUI, an employee did, and they will deal with it accordingly. So spare me the drama Nancy.
Are you seriously contending that any human being in thier right mind actually would “get the message” that The University of Georgia is advocating drinking and driving because of this? geez.
Going to come out of this without a scratch, with an upgrade at AD. Sorry.
AltamahaDawg
July 2nd, 2010
8:38 pm
Red panties how do you figure this to haunt UGA for years to come? In what way? and with whom? This is going to haunt Georgia for a weekend, till it’s resolved and the attention will turn to the excitment of looking for a new and better AD.
DoggieHater
July 2nd, 2010
8:40 pm
Red panties between his legs, drunk and crying…..this is priceless and I swear is better than I could ever make up….what an embarrassment to the rednecks from Athens. Even the pick up truck alumni are abandoning the Damon ship……see ya later Damon….you can chase white women all you want when your wife dumps your butt, but I dont think you will have much money to do it….say bye bye to big bucks you big dummy
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July 2nd, 2010
10:18 pm
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clickdawg
July 2nd, 2010
10:25 pm
jo, ever heard of a thing called money?
redeyedjak
July 3rd, 2010
9:28 am
Been there and done that and got the Dumb and Dumber award. I was not the athletic director of a major school and all but lost everything. He’s got to go and the sooner he resigns the better the university will be. If he’s waiting on President Adams he must have some D$&@ good negatives on file.
you mean
July 3rd, 2010
9:31 am
sportswriters do not like covering this sort of story with the exception of bradley and schultz. Oh wait they’re really not sports writers!
no bulldog fan
July 3rd, 2010
10:58 am
All you dawg fans–you think your stuff doesn’t stink and that all will be well in a few weeks. ‘No harm done’. Things like this and your holier than thou attitudes just continue everyone’s belief that you are third class losers. Your university is embarrassed to the hilt and you think it’s really no big deal. But I guess when you deal with this kind of thing all the time, it IS a sad way of life for you. You should be embarrassed and keep your mouths shut for a change. There is nothing positive about your crying like a baby, trying to throw his weight around, drunk driving , cheating on his wife AD. And not much more about a college president and ole Vince himself who basically have no comment almost three days later. Quality and integrity just don’t make it at UGAg.
Sonja Leonard
July 3rd, 2010
11:11 am
He is an idiot………………He does not deserve to keep that job as AD. He needs to resign before he is fired. He was probably doing those things all along. He just got caught this time. As far as his family is concerned, I am sure his wife was aware of his womanizing ways.All wives know. She is probably shocked that everybody else knows now ……………….and her money is now going to be cut!!!! They will need to downsize……………….:)
UGA$$$Contributor
July 3rd, 2010
2:42 pm
Damon should be fired for this grievous lapse of judgment and his lack of morals. That part is not negotiable. What about Adams? How will this affect him? Damon was his protege, he dumped the great VD unceremoniously to install his puppet, and some of this mess should correctly reflect on him. Maybe this is a good chance to get him out of our hair once and for all. He has had a Teflon skin for far too long, but now maybe some of this will stick to him and we can begin the process of reclaiming our great university.
Chas
July 3rd, 2010
5:57 pm
This may be of some comfort Mr Evans,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br-Dy3puDoc
UGA Alumnus 1957
July 3rd, 2010
9:52 pm
I have no sympathy for this hipocrit. He is just like Tiger and Kobe. He is a bum and a jerk and there is no excuse. His position is one of the top jobs in state and one of the best AD jobs in the country. He showed no respect for his family, his supporters, the University, and the people who trusted him in this capacity, and those who recommended him for this position.
I am very sad for the entire event but he also injured the multitude of African-Americans who aspire responsible executive positions. How could he have the Golden Goose and treat it so terrible. Of course this is a life changing event for him and his family. I suspect details of his severance are being worked out now to prevent further damage to the University.
I would like to see anyone debate why he should not be considered a bum and low life for these actions. If he were applying for AD position at any college now, I doubt if he would even get an interview. One wonders if this is a recurring event and if so, how did he not think that eventually these women would expose him.
steve
July 3rd, 2010
9:59 pm
That girl set him up she was paid by a Tech grad.Took him out got him drunk and promised him a white girl
Lisa Oliver
July 5th, 2010
3:44 pm
I have never seen such a huge fall from grace. Let’s all keep the Evans family in our prayers.
SICKnTired
July 5th, 2010
11:07 pm
ever notice that when a black person says there is racisim involved every one speaks up to say Racisim is dead and black people are playing the victim, yet when a white person says something racist “Damon Evans was an affirmative action hire” “he was hired because he was black” etc etc that no one ever denounces that.
Reminds of how we attack Muslims for saying we are attacking their faith yet they never denounce islamic facisists.
Not saying Damon’s firing was racist. Just amused by the lack of outrage when some one makes a blatantly tasteless comment.
Please no keyboard bravado needed. Everyone is a big man when they can’t be held accountable.
SICKnTired
July 5th, 2010
11:08 pm
Oh and if any one gets upset if opposing fans wave red panties. Get a Life and grow a pair. We are DAWGS not whimpering mutts. We can take it.
Debbie
July 16th, 2010
1:14 pm
To Damen and family: This is a time for much praying and self searching. Please stay strong and do not allow for this awful inciendent to overshadow your marriage and commitment to the children. Yes we all fall short of the mark from time to time. Just be strong and make your marriage work. Please do not throw in the towel unless you both can honesty say that your love for each other is not greater than this. Yes it hurts, but this is the time for forgiving and healing. If your love and marrigae is worth fighting for: Make this your biggest fight! May God bless and keep you all in His tender loving Arms.