Paul nails several key issues that the new athletic director will have to face over the next several years. I’m especially concerned about retaining Mark Fox. But as soon as he hits the ground – be it six months or a year from now, there are two things Evans’ replacement should see to. Yes, I’m not including anything about football here. Short of facilities needs, the football program just requires a laissez-faire approach. In addition to firming up the strengths of the athletic department, there is one sport that seems out of alignment with its recent history and potential. More on that in a second. The top priority is…

Continue to build on what Evans did well. Michael Adams said he was troubled most by the “loss of potential” upon Damon Evans’ arrest and resignation. It’s frustrating that a competent and respected administrator who had developed a good organization was done in by a personal flaw. Job #1 of Evans’ replacement will be to first do no harm in these areas which have become strengths of the Bulldog program:

• Sound financial management. Membership in the SEC puts you ahead of the game, but it’s easy to take that gravy train for granted and to forget the expense side. Georgia has maintained a healthy financial standing while continuing to invest in facilities improvements, and that shouldn’t change under new leadership.
• Academic emphasis. The Harrick scandal did a lot of damage to the academic reputation of Georgia student-athletes, and a lot has been done to repair that reputation. Georgia’s performance in the APR has been consistently near the top of the SEC. The Rankin Smith Center is an outstanding resource. Class attendance is enforced. None of that is unique to Georgia, but it’s still a culture that needs to be kept up and constantly resupported.
• NCAA compliance. As President Adams noted earlier, there wasn’t a hint of impropriety concerning compliance issues under Evans. Again, compliance is as much cultural as anything.
• Support for basketball. It might prove to be Damon Evans’ most positive legacy. The new practice facility, the ongoing Stegeman Coliseum renovation, and the hiring of Mark Fox have Georgia basketball fans daring to be optimistic about the future. Fox has already started to show results on the court and on the recruiting trail, and he won’t have his hands tied by longstanding concerns about facilities going forward. A new athletic director needs to continue to nurture this turnaround which is still at a very fragile state.

Repair the relationship with baseball. The future of David Perno is just one piece of the puzzle. If the relationship between the program and the athletic department hasn’t been adversarial, it’s still been troubling. The issue of the Nike bats imposed on the team was probably the most public example of the difficulties. Facilities also remain an issue: there are plans for a reconfiguration of Foley Field, now at 20+ years since its last renovation, and work is underway to replace bleachers with chairback seating. There is some sentiment that baseball now occupies the back seat once reserved for basketball. Whether progress requires a change in leadership of the program or just a better relationship between the program and the athletic department is up in the air. We’ve seen the potential of the program over the past decade, and work needs to be done to realize that potential on a much more consistent basis.

Maintaining the cash cow that is football revenue is important, but the program can also do more to grow its other revenue sources. That comes back to a stronger basketball program and investment in baseball. Georgia hoops brings in about $7.3 million and even turns a profit of nearly $1 million, but that revenue is towards the bottom of the pack in the SEC. Not surprising for a program that’s struggled to win, but the possibility for $2-3 million additional dollars is there if the turnaround continues. Baseball is also a potential source of additional revenue, but the capacity of Foley Field is a constraint. The current project to convert bleachers to chairbacks might even reduce capacity. There are no luxury boxes or sources of premium revenue. Can the demand be generated to merit significant investment in the baseball facility?

Michael Adams has a strained relationship – to put it nicely – with many Georgia fans. But facing a possible crisis in the athletic department, Adams has fared about as well as someone in his position can in the week since Damon Evans’ arrest. The upcoming search is still a big part of the process, so we’ll save the standing ovation until the new athletic director is in place. Mark Bradley is dead-on:  Adams “has been tone-perfect in this time of turmoil.”

What’s even more amazing is that an issue that could have been fumbled as badly and publicly as the Harrick mess has instead more or less been one of Adams’ better moments in his relationship with the athletics program.  From his measured response to the initial report to the appropriate settlement to the wise search plan laid out yesterday, consensus support has formed around Adams’ actions every step of the way. Now much of that might have to do with the graphic nature of the police report and Evans’ cooperation – how much choice did Adams have in the matter?

But moving beyond the incident and Evans’ resignation, Adams hit on every big note in his plan.  Frank Crumley might be reluctant to step into the limelight as interim AD, but he – like Dr. Carla Green Williams – are known as competent administrators who will be good stewards of the athletic department even if they aren’t finalists for the job.  Paul has already explained the quality of the search committee, and they’ll protect Georgia’s interests.

More important though is the vision to aim high and look beyond Athens or even Georgia for the successor.  This isn’t a situation where there needs to be a house-cleaning; the remaining organization is very solid.  But fresh perspective and a relative lack of political entanglements at the top won’t be bad things in Athens.  Cynics will claim that Adams just wants to hand-pick someone he can control, but that thinking doesn’t mesh with the goals Adams set out for the search nor the composition of the search committee.

The nature of the search’s vision reflects the reality that a modern athletic director is much more CEO than jock-in-chief. It’s no longer a place for the coach emeritus to finish out his career.  The new AD will have to fight for Georgia’s interests against other titans in the SEC.  They’ll have to scratch to grow the program in the face of strong regional competition and a down economy. Adams has set expectations high, and the new athletic director will be judged against that lofty vision.

Or, he could just send the search committee a photo of Mike Garrett with “the opposite of this” scrawled on it.  Same result.

Redshirt freshman Jordan Love was arrested by University police and charged with obstruction of a police officer Monday night. Love allegedly refused to give his name to an officer after police responded to a complaint that three people were shooting off fireworks near McWhorter Hall. Not smart, but jeez…

We can now look forward to a week of lazy DUI-plus-this-equals-out-of-control-Georgia columns. If Dennis Dodd tries hard enough, he might even be able to tie this arrest to the house fire in Lilburn over the weekend that was caused by fireworks.

UPDATE: The AJC provides additional information that makes it look as if charges against Love could be dropped by the end of the day. It also doesn’t paint the UGA police department in the best light.

“Are you satisfied with the job Mark Richt has done?”

I just don’t see how he can come back from this.

The big question now: was President Adams made completely aware of what would be in the police report when the two spoke on Thursday? If not, Evans has sealed his fate. If so, all of that wasn’t enough to bring about a very strong recommendation that Evans resign? I understand President Adams wanting to confer with legal staff and follow the book on something like this, but I’m amazed Evans made it through Thursday if the additional details in the report were known.

It was the perfect modern apology. Emotional, apparently sincere, and generic. Evans is deeply sorry for the shame and black cloud he’s brought upon the University. He has his shortcomings – don’t we all? If you relied upon Evans’ statement, you wouldn’t have known if he had been arrested for DUI, littering on North Campus, or kicking Russ the bulldog. Of course that’s the way it has to be – no lawyer this side of Lionel Hutz is going to let his client speak to the specifics of an incident with charges still pending.

Mark Bradley wants him gone yesterday, but that’s not how it works. Evans has taken resignation off the table, so Evans’ future lies with Michael Adams. There’s a difference between a forced resignation and termination, and the latter won’t happen without a whole lot of negotiation and bases being covered. There’s a lot of the story still out there – Evans’ past, how candid he was with Adams, and what comes of the charges themselves.

David Hale sums up the feeling among a lot of us that this could end up going either way.

The biggest question: Do I think Evans will keep his job? Honestly, I don’t know…But the truth is… this is going to be very, very hard for Evans to overcome at Georgia. Which isn’t to say it can’t be done.

This is going to be a riveting decision in the respect that it could go one way or the other and no one would be surprised. The case can be (and has been) made for both choices and all sorts of disciplinary permutations. It seems incredulous that such an allegation, if true, wouldn’t mean the end for a high-profile administrator on a campus that’s put the issue of alcohol under such a glaring spotlight. If he remains on, it’s going to be a long and painful – and public – road back. This will always be a black mark on his reputation. Would it be better for him and the University for that process to occur someplace other than under the glare of public scrutiny? That’s part of Adams’ decision.

In either case, it’s just a sad, sad story all around. One of Georgia’s own, a home-grown star in the world of athletics administration, has fallen. Then you have the damage brought on his family. Most importantly, it’s no small thing that this night just ended with an arrest. Evans’ decisions could have had a much more tragic outcome. The University community on up to the governor’s office is very tuned in to the subject of DUI right now.

If Evans remains on, how does he go forward? On this point I’m with Kyle – Evans has more to own up to if he is really interested in redemption. I understand that the legal process makes that impossible right now, but there will come a time when it’s necessary. Not for my sake – he owes me nothing. In terms of credibility with the student-athletes at Georgia, the ability to be frank and candid about the experience will go a long way towards rebuilding his character. Once this is over, I’d even suggest that he re-cut that infamous PSA in much more personal terms as a way of addressing his shortcomings head-on.

Is it really impossible for Evans to maintain credibility with the people within the athletic department and also the student-athletes under his direction? I don’t think so. Give the kids more credit – right and wrong aren’t foreign concepts. Certainly a measure of discipline is expected and due even if he isn’t let go, but the program isn’t going to become Ciudad Juárez because of Evans’ bad example. It’s also not as if the student-athletes are guided by day-to-day interaction with the athletic director. He’s there at games and certainly available when needed, but most of the experiences the student-athletes will have when it comes to building character and discipline comes from their individual coaching staffs.

A few random observations to close with:

1 – I do credit Evans for taking questions. Some of them were tough and pointed, and he answered them. The press conference was open and carried live. He could have issued a written statement and then hid behind spokesmen and lawyers, and I’m sure someone advised him to do just that. I mean, it’s not like he was changing jobs or anything.

2 – Not to dig up the ghosts of Dooley/Adams, but there were concerns when Evans was hired about the autonomy a relatively young and inexperienced athletic director would have under the supervision of President Adams. To put it more crudely, would Evans just be a yes-man? Some still think so. I thought that unfair to Evans, and – maybe I’ve got my head in the sand – the partnership of Evans and Adams has been productive. That said, how will this decision change their relationship going forward if Adams decides to retain Evans – will Evans feel that he “owes” Adams?

3 – There are a lot of lessons to take from this story from Evans’ alleged actions, but his passenger provides an important lesson too: if you’re in the car while the driver is being questioned by the police, shut up. Ms. Courtney Fuhrmann could have easily remained anonymous in this story, and it seems as if she wants to, but now her name and mug shot are all over the most salacious story to hit the UGA beat in a while. [insert Ron White joke about having the right to remain silent]

UPDATE: Evans’ first court date has been set for July 12th when he will answer to the DUI charge in Atlanta. He’s consulted with Athens lawyer Ed Tolley, but Tolley cannot represent Evans due to Tolley’s longstanding relationship with the athletic department.

As we expected, the final NACDA Directors’ Cup standings for 2010 were released today. Georgia was in 17th place pending the baseball postseason, and the Bulldogs ended up being passed by Texas, LSU, and Minnesota in the final rankings. As Marc Weiszer reports, the 20th place finish is Georgia’s lowest since 1997.

The trend isn’t good, but it’s not like football or men’s basketball was in that much better shape during Georgia’s better Directors’ Cup finishes. The drop-off has more to do with sports like gymnastics and the spring sports that have usually contributed to Georgia’s more successful years. The Bulldogs have had several national titles and second-place finishes in football and baseball during this “slide”, so it’s not like the wheels have come off the program.

But a drop into the 20s wasn’t going to be a great bit of news for athletic director Damon Evans. If only that were the worst thing he’d face today.

UGASports.com dropped a bombshell when they reported this morning that Evans was arrested last night in Atlanta for DUI and was released on bail from the Atlanta city jail. Other Atlanta media have since confirmed, and Fox 5 was able to provide this stunning mugshot:

The facts seem to be these: Evans and an unnamed passenger were pulled over around 11:55 p.m. at Roswell Road and Chastain Drive in Atlanta. He refused a Breathalyzer test at the scene. Evans was charged with “charged with DUI and driving in an improper lane” according to the UGASports.com report, citing an Atlanta City Jail spokesperson.

Evans is headed back to Athens, and it will be a very interesting afternoon. WSB-TV reports that “UGA President Michael Adams said he would make a statement “soon.”” I’d be surprised if this led to Evans’ dismissal, but you never know – there are sure to be more details to come. There will also naturally be questions about Evans’ ability to lead a program that’s seen more than its share of alcohol-related incidents over the past few years.

At the very least, it’s definitely going to make that second half DUI public service announcement a little awkward.

UPDATE: A press conference is scheduled for around 6:00. Meanwhile, the identity of the car’s passenger has been released, and it’s not at all good news for Evans.