The contract of Georgia Athletic Director Damon Evans gives the University the latitude to fire him if convicted of a felony “or crime of moral turpitude,” but makes no mention of consequences stemming from a misdemeanor arrest.

Damon Evans talks with the media Thursday. Photo by WES BLANKENSHIP

Evans, who was arrested and charged with driving under the influence early Thursday in Atlanta, finds himself in an difficult situation socially with the University community, but legally he could survive with his job title in tact. University President Michael Adams is on vacation but returns early next week, and will most likely expound on the situation during a media briefing Tuesday afternoon on campus.

According to the contract obtained by The Red & Black, it gives the University eight reasons for termination for cause of his contract, including deliberate or serious violation of NCAA policy, failure to report NCAA violations, financial malfeasance and conviction of a felony or crime of moral turpitude. DUI is a misdemeanor charge, and while the other details of the incident didn’t amount to a criminal charge, they don’t help.

According to the report released Friday afternoon by the Georgia State Patrol, Evans admitted drinking three Vodka cocktails to Trooper M. Cabe and tried to bargain his way out of the arrest, stating “I am not trying to bribe you but I’m the athletic director of the University of Georgia.”

A passenger, 28-year-old Courtney Fuhrmann of Atlanta, was charged with disorderly conduct after Cabe noted she was being “very loud and obnoxious and was obviously intoxicated.”

When first pulled over, Evans had a pair of red panties between his legs. The trooper asked Evans “what her panties were doing in his side of the seat. He stated, ‘She took them off and I held them because I was just trying to get her home.’ ”

Evans refused to take a Breathalyzer, telling the trooper  “We go through life and we all drink and jump in a car.” The trooper reported when he was at the station, Evans was crying uncontrollably.

The contract does give the University the ability to suspend Evans for cause, and during the suspension he would not be able to receive salary or other benefits, but the suspension can last for no more than 90 days. Again, Evans can be suspended in the event of an indictment or information of a felony charge, but there is no mention of punishment for a misdemeanor.

Evans returned to campus Thursday to discuss the arrest in front of a roomful of media, Georgia coaches and administrators, and his wife Kerri and two children. The athletic director apologized, noting “It’s going to take a while for me to earn your trust back and it should and I don’t know if I ever will. But I will do everything in my power to make you believe in me once again.”

His new contract, which was signed in April but took effect on July 1, boosted his pay to $550,000 this year, and each year for the next five years he will get an automatic $20,000 raise, which will give him a salary of  $630,000 by 2014. He will receive a $250,000 longevity bonus if he remains in the job when the contract expires in 2015.

Also included in the contract is the use of two cars and a country club membership “at a mutually agreed upon golf or country club.”

Damon Evans contract