Richt shares thoughts on Evans’ arrest, resignation
ATHENS — Georgia football coach Mark Richt met with a few reporters in the atrium of the Butts-Mehre building late this afternoon and talked publicly for the first time about the arrest and resignation of Damon Evans. Richt expressed sadness for Evans and his family, endorsed the selection of Frank Crumley as interim athletics director and expressed confidence that UGA President Michael Adams will make a wise decision on Evans’ permanent successor.
Following are excerpts from the conversation with Richt.
His general feelings about what has happened:
“I do feel for Damon and his family. I’ve been working with Damon for almost 10 years now. I had a very good working relationship with Damon and a very good personal relationship, too, with him and his family. I’m definitely sad for everyone from that regard.
“Moving forward, I think President Adams has done a really very fine job of handling the situation the way he did. I think having Frank Crumley as the interim AD right now makes the most sense. Frank is a very, very sharp guy. We’ve got a lot of sharp people in our association. Everybody is very, very capable of doing their job or basically continuing to do their job because I don’t see anything that is really going to change in the way we go about our day-to-day business. I’ve got a lot of faith in Frank’s ability to lead. . . .
“We’re just going to go on with life and take care of business. Our football staff and our football team –- I think everyone is saddened by the news of losing Damon because he has done a bunch of wonderful things for us. He has been an outstanding athletic director. But we all know we’ve got a job to do and an exciting season ahead of us, and we are very excited about moving forward. And this situation, as sad as it was, we don’t believe it will hinder us from going where we want to go and doing the things that we want to do. So we’re focusing on that right now.”
Asked if he has spoken with Evans:
“Actually, we exchanged voice mails. Seems like every time I called him he wasn’t able to pick up, and vice versa. Nothing that I would want to divulge, nothing earth-shattering, but just talking about the situation as best you can through a series of a couple of messages we left for each other.”
On a permanent successor to Evans:
“I do have a lot of confidence in President Adams’ ability to hire a new person who will get the job done and get the job done well. I know Georgia is one of the finest universities in this country, and our athletic program has got to be one of the top five in America in my opinion. So it is a job that a lot of people would be interested in, a lot of quality people. And whoever the president decides on, I’ll support that person and we’ll be ready to move forward.”
His initial reaction upon hearing the news of Evans’ arrest:
“I didn’t really know how to react. Because when you’re not there and when you don’t know everything that happened, you hear DUI and that’s certainly a very serious thing. But I really didn’t try to make — I didn’t and still won’t make any kind of judgment on it, but I knew it was serious. I knew that.”
On whether the negative attention on Georgia could adversely affect recruiting:
“I don’t think so. Georgia is an awesome place; it’s a beautiful campus; we’re in a wonderful city; we’ve got tremendous academics here; we’ve got a great athletic program. I think people see that and people want to be a part of that, so I don’t think it’s going to become a problem that way.”
And on speculation about how a new AD might affect Mark Richt’s future:
“I don’t worry about those things, I really don’t. My focus is to do my job, and my focus is to be obedient to my Lord and Savior. That’s kind of what I do. And if that is good enough, great.”
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
304 comments Add your comment
The Exterminator
July 7th, 2010
11:15 pm
northern transplant –
If you want more backward I recommend the area around North Avenue and Techwood.
The Exterminator
July 7th, 2010
11:19 pm
POAD, you are a disturbed individual. Seek help.
POAD
July 7th, 2010
11:24 pm
damn typing Charismatic. Boy I better sober up before the guys come to work tomarrow.
POAD
July 7th, 2010
11:26 pm
No Yankee Bast..d. My good eye is right in the middle of my PLOW and it sees better than DAMON’S when it comes to PLOWING a good field.
harold
July 7th, 2010
11:26 pm
I am now conviced Georgia goes 13-0 and wins The National Championship!
Vince's Dooley
July 7th, 2010
11:32 pm
I’ve got my AD application filled out. Can someone slip it into Pres Adams inbox for me?
hammerhead
July 7th, 2010
11:45 pm
This entire blog is complete and utter NOSE SKIMMINGS.
UGA Pride
July 7th, 2010
11:45 pm
UGA folks can brag all you want to about beating Tech in football most years, and that’s perfectly fair. What’s also fair is to point out that with a history of Jan Kemp (Vince Dooley days), Jim Harrick, and now Damon Evans, the UGA Athletic Department is truly “The Cesspool of the South”, and is richly deserving of that title. No one outside of Georgia has any respect for your University or your Athletic Department, and that is a fact. It has been said many times: “Tech people are proud of their school, Georgia people are proud of their football team”. What a legacy to be proud of!
Pat
July 7th, 2010
11:50 pm
If you don’t support Richt then you’re a ignorant moron.
Vince's Dooley
July 7th, 2010
11:52 pm
Wonder if they kept my old office chair around the office? That would save some money. See, I can still do this.
Tuck Fech
July 7th, 2010
11:54 pm
UGA Pride…quote from Athlon Sports…”Tech will ALWAYS be the SECOND Favorite Team in its OWN city”
HOW BOUT THEM DAWGS!
Coach Richt
July 7th, 2010
11:58 pm
Can I nominate Willie Martinez for that AD job? He might start speaking to me again if I get him that gig.
UGA Pride
July 8th, 2010
12:06 am
Hey – Tuck; as a UGA fan, you may not be aware that Atlanta is in Georgia. The statement was “No one outside of Georgia has any respect for your University or your Athletic Department, and that is a fact.” Since there are many more UGA alums in Atlanta than Tech Alumns (UGA being more than twice the size of Tech), of course Tech will always be second in Atlanta. You are truly as dumb as I would expect a UGA fan to be!
GATA
July 8th, 2010
12:14 am
GAtors in ATlanta Again…GATA. Minus the red panties of course. Only Teebows allowed here.
Vince's Dooley
July 8th, 2010
12:19 am
Hey, I just figured out that joke everyone used to email me all the time. You know the one…
Why was the baby Jesus not born at UGA? Because they couldn’t find three wise men or a virgin.
Why did I finally figure it out now?
Losers
July 8th, 2010
12:53 am
Typical of a school and state that thinks it’s football team matters. Hey, guess what, it doesn’t!! Not gonna win anything anytime soon. As usual, you’ll make either a$$es or fools of yourselves come December or January. You call your coach a class act…..why? Look at these arrests. Look at Florida! Look at ‘Bama. I’ve heard some of these morons think the other SEC schools want to be like UGA. Why? It’s amazing how you “fans” can’t back anything up. You haven’t won ANYTHING IN 30 YEARS!!!! HELLO???????
Losers
July 8th, 2010
12:56 am
THE MOST HILARIOUS FACT IS THAT UGA HAS THE TOP 5 FRESHMAN CLASSES COMING IN, ALMOST YEARLY, YET……..YOU WIN 10 OR SO AND YET FLORIDA HAS KICKED YOUR YOU KNOW WHAT FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS! SHUT UP GEORGIA, WE DON’T CARE!!!! YOU’RE JUST LIKE THE ADULTS ON CHARLIE BROWN….BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH
russ for uga VII
July 8th, 2010
12:58 am
To Hey dogtards;
You are among the brain dead of monolithic proportions. UGA is average academically??? Top 5 veterinary schools nationally, top 5 business schools nationally, top 5 agricutural schools nationally, top 5 research university…….(nationally)…pick up an almanac before you open your dude blower….(possibly top 5 nationally)
RED DOG 77
July 8th, 2010
1:00 am
I am so dadgum proud of coach Mark Richt and the University of Georgia I could just jump up and holler !!!!!!…………….All of you negative hate mongers, God loves you too !!………..If this situation had happened anywhere else, mabe some UGA people would act the same as some of you other haters,but I can assure you, Mark Richt and I would be praying for you, praying that Gods love would bless you. I just pray that those of you who do not know Jesus Christ might find him, it is without any doubt, the greatest feeling in the world……………….Blessings to all, RED
KimZ'sPackage
July 8th, 2010
1:05 am
what all the hate? if it is just a kids game?
KimZ'sPackage
July 8th, 2010
1:09 am
tim email me ad let me know what I said that was wrong over the other posters.
russ for uga VII
July 8th, 2010
1:10 am
Alabamastan and Florida(wang) posting on here…first…the cousin blowers; when was the last team our football team was on probation? Second…to the valtrex needing wang of the country…speaking of thirty years; you didn’t win so much as a tennis match from inception to ‘96….you know how I know you’re not old enough to smoke???????
KimZ'sPackage
July 8th, 2010
1:11 am
if Tuck is allowed to post and keep his name then why not P O A D?
KimZ'sPackage
July 8th, 2010
1:16 am
Tim tell P O A D whay your are mad and why you will not let him poast it is only fair.
Slippery
July 8th, 2010
1:34 am
CMR is a class act. Evans is not. I don’t, for a second, believe that this was Evan’s
first time down this road. He is a disgrace to the University that put it’s trust in this
man.
KimZ'sPackage
July 8th, 2010
1:50 am
Crumley presides over UGA Athletics like NERO played the Fiddle.
Baldemar Huerta
July 8th, 2010
2:55 am
Jesus H Christ, it’s almost idiotball season again, and the morons are out in full force. I is fewtbawl fan. I is frum Gergia. Huh. huh.
Richt speaks out on Evans’ arrest, resignation | Gwinnett DUI Lawyer
July 8th, 2010
3:38 am
[...] Source [...]
dagnabit
July 8th, 2010
5:44 am
Good morning all. It looks like I’m being moderated.
Go Apps71
July 8th, 2010
5:48 am
Hey, I am pretty proud of my degree from Appalachian State University. And my son is proud of his degree from Virginia Tech (and Widener Law School).
So if VT can get past Boise State, do you think they can take it to the Barn? And I have a feeling that ASU will at least play again for the FCS title.
Warhorse
July 8th, 2010
6:40 am
Excellent comments from Richt. Appropriate classy response, that would be expected.
No sense is shooting at a man in a life boat, which Evans certainly is at a point where he must rehab a life where half million dollar jobs do not float around for a marginally qualified guy, but one who may be able to parlay his contacts with Dawg nation into a future position with a Georgia employer.
drummerman11
July 8th, 2010
6:46 am
Richt’s a class guy, but no wins (big) and he’ll end up like Fulmer, great guy, what have ya done for me lately, and bye, your gone…..I hope not, cause UGA could end up with a Lame Kiffin like we did until we got a real man for a coach-Derek Dooley, Lord I hope he wins, let me tell ya UGA folks, us’ins in Vols land have had our teeth kicked in pretty good lately too…Go Dawgs, Go Vols…..
mike
July 8th, 2010
7:00 am
Okay, who really gives a damn about GA Tech or their players, coaches, SAT scores, ugly women, or especially their idiot fans????
GatorJacket
July 8th, 2010
7:02 am
To the UGA fans who persist in touting the GA-GT score as some sort of badge of success. Why not compare yourselves to a similar program that you compete against for a meaningful championship?. The first number you should remember is 17-3. No – that is not a score . Florida has gone 17-3 in the game against the DAWG$ since 1990. The second number -if you want a score- is 47-7 when the DAWG$ felt the full impact of the gator chomp. I wont bother posting the other scores as i know you all are easily confused. So – I guess you can go on living off of a few key wins every few years. GT only has to beat the DAWG$ once every 10 years to put a decade worth of sand in your red panties.
mike
July 8th, 2010
7:03 am
Likewise Florida
georgiadawg70
July 8th, 2010
7:07 am
SouthJaxBeachBulldog, If you hope CMR stays a long time you must be content to losing to your friends in Gainsville every year. All those yankees and half breed foreighnors down there love him as much as you do.
Dick Gazzinya
July 8th, 2010
7:13 am
Richt should be the new AD. He could be the best in the country.
L'il Russ
July 8th, 2010
7:18 am
The most important question that nobody seems to want to ask of the interim AD is “are you gonna spray paint my butt again this year”?
Damon Evans
July 8th, 2010
7:23 am
Hey how about black jerseys and red panties as a tribute!
reality
July 8th, 2010
7:27 am
45-42….Nesbitt for Heisman….now stick that in your red panties!!!
Spike
July 8th, 2010
7:29 am
CMR is a class act.
Papa Bowden
July 8th, 2010
7:33 am
Way to cover that A, Mark! Good Boy! See you in Tallahassee in a couple of years. Les has sump catfish! Mmum mmum mmum. Pass those grits to Mark. Hiss a good boy!
Actually
July 8th, 2010
7:40 am
Actually UGA has an excellent academic standing against public universities nationwide. But there is always some ignorant, uneducated loser who likes to toss in false accusations.
Reality Check
July 8th, 2010
7:44 am
30-24!!!!
30-24!!!!
30-24!!!!
30-24!!!!
8 out of 9!!!!
8 out of 9!!!!
8 out of 9!!!!
8 out of 9!!!!
Mark Richt is undefeated on Tech’s “historic” Grant Field located in tiny and quaint (and usually half full) Bobby Dodd Stadium!!!!
Toss in 73-66!!!! Tech’s vastly overrated basketball team got whipped in Athens as usual
GatorJacket
July 8th, 2010
7:47 am
Florida will continue to get the greatest athletes, though not academic, because we allow them to party and get away with it. Our Gators do not even face a punishment until after they’ve flunked their third drug test. Requiring discipline, academic study and integrity is NOT part of our game plan at Florida and that’s why we win!
Nancy
July 8th, 2010
7:50 am
Evans actually made out pretty well with UGA on his exit package! That is our state tax dollars paying someone for getting a DUI and other personal actions. You know this country is losing all of its values and morals and it is becoming a “if it feels good do it” world. Shame on us!!!!
Moss
July 8th, 2010
8:02 am
Richt has a track record of excelling, during good times, AND when facing adversity (2002 & 2007 rebounded to top 3 national program after poor seasons previous year).He’ll have no problem keeping his focus.
DICK
July 8th, 2010
8:06 am
CAN ANYONE SAY KISSING UP TO ADAMS? wITH HIS RECORD IN SEC HE BETTER START KISSING UP.
Richt now
July 8th, 2010
8:13 am
Richt, a good but not great coach, but uga can’t ever fire him because he’s a “nice guy.” Great news for Florida! 17-3 now, 18-3 after November! UF upsets bama for the SEC title–mark it down!
UGA WHO
July 8th, 2010
8:29 am
I knew that Damon Evans was going to get fired when he was pulled over for DUI and arrested – with a white women in the car. Are you kidding me. I totally blame Damon Evans. Damon, you have little room for misstakes, you are judges differently from all the rest, and people that you think have your best interest at heart, DON’T. Case in point, you were arrested on Friday and Fired on Saturday, if they are tring to minimize President Obama, then you know people like you and I don’t stand a chance. How could you slip on something like this. You where the youngest, and first black person to ever become AD for UGA, that in itself is HUGE and is one for the History Books, but it is all for not with this scandal. Where was Vince Dooley???? No one had your back at all from UGA.