Bulldogs 411

ATHENS, Ga. --- A University of Georgia Athletic Association committee accepted Damon Evans' resignation Monday, four days after the Georgia State Patrol arrested him on a DUI charge during which Evans reminded the trooper about the powerful job he held.

The athletic association's executive committee voted unanimously to approve the terms of Evans' departure after a 15-minute meeting Monday morning held by teleconference and closed to the public and press.

Evans submitted his resignation Sunday after a meeting with Ed Tolley, a lawyer who represents the university. Evans and University of Georgia President Michael Adams signed it Sunday, and it went into effect Monday.

The separation agreement that the committee approved includes a severance deal that will pay Evans about $237,500 -- a $100,000 longevity bonus after his six-year stint as athletic director, plus three months' salary.

Speculation immediately turned to who Evans' successor might be. Much of the talk focused on Greg McGarity, executive senior associate athletic director at the University of Florida.

Adams plans to talk about the future leadership of the athletic department today at a previously scheduled media briefing.

Anticipating a large turnout, university administrators moved the regular briefing from where it's normally held -- a small conference room in the Administration Building on North Campus -- to the spacious Mahler Auditorium in the Georgia Center for Continuing Education.

Besides McGarity, possible candidates to replace Evans might include senior athletics administrators already at Georgia, including Carla Williams, senior associate athletic director, and Frank Crumley, executive associate athletic director.

McGarity, a native of Athens, is already the choice for many in the Bulldog Nation.

"I sure hope they consider Greg McGarity," said Dan Magill, former Georgia tennis coach and ex-sports information director who has known McGarity since he was a child.

Magill described him as an extremely competent athletic administrator at Georgia before he left to take a job at Florida.

"I think he'd be the best choice for the job," agreed Charlie Berry, of Chickamauga, president of the Chattahoochee-Northwest Georgia Bulldog Club, one of the largest Georgia booster clubs. "I sincerely hope he gets it."

Anthony DasherManaging Editor

Talk about it in The Dawgvent

What was already bad week for Georgia athletic director Damon Evans is now a full-blown nightmare following the release of the police report stemming from Wednesday night's DUI arrest in Atlanta.

According to the report sent to UGASports, Evans not only tried to use his position to influence the arresting officer, but also report states that the officer found a pair of red women's panties between the legs of the Bulldog athletic director.

The panties allegedly belonged to Courtney Fuhrmann, the 28-year-old woman who was in Evans' company when the arrest was made.

Furman was charged with disorderly conduct, Evans with DUI and failure to maintain a lane.

"I asked the subject what her panties were doing in his side of the seat and he stated 'she took them off and I held them because I was trying to get her home,'" Georgia State Patrol trooper M. Cabe said in the report. "The subject said that he understood what was going on and stated, 'I don't want to use who I am, but I would ask that you take me to a Motel."

According to the report, Evans had red, bloodshot, watery eyes and droopy eyelids. Evans told the officer he had "a couple of drinks," admitting to drinking two Vodka Martinis at a restaurant and also drinking a Martinis at the Beluga Martinia Bar.

After asking Evans to step out of his vehicle, Officer Cabe asked if he was taking medications. Evans said no. At that point, Evans smiled saying "I feel pretty good," then laughed for no apparent reason.

Evans was then administered a walking test, at which time it was noted that the Gainesville native used his vehicle for balance kept his left heel on the ground the entire test, even after the officer instructinhed him to keep it approximately six inches off the ground.

It was at that point that Fuhrmann began yelling obnoxiously. While Cabe was dealing with Fuhrmann, Evans walked toward them before being told to stay back.

Once Fuhrmann was arrested, Evans said "I have a young lady and she is intoxicated and I am just trying to get her home. I appologize and don't want to use my influence but she is trying to protect me."

The report also stated that when transporting Evans and Fuhrmann to City of Atlanta Jail, she told Evans she was mad that "Evans was going to get off, and she was not."

Cabe said in the report that Evans asked the officer to let him off with a warning.

Upon being released to jail personnel, the report said Evans began "crying uncontrollable."

Evans future with Georgia remains up in the air.

On Thursday, Evans addressed the media, where he apologized to his wife Kerri, UGA President Michael Adams, and Bulldog supporters everywhere.

Evans was arrested at 11:55 Wednesday night at the corner of Roswell Road and Chastain Drive.

Adams released a statement Thursday saying he would reserve further comment pending a full review by staff and legal counsel.

Evans is scheduled to appear in Atlanta Municipal Court on July 12.