The University of Georgia's most recognized athletic figure had been quiet since the arrest and resignation of athletic director Damon Evans, but he spoke up Wednesday.
Football coach Mark Richt was on vacation last week when Evans was charged with DUI in Atlanta and had a passenger who was arrested for disorderly conduct. The passenger, 28-year-old Courtney Fuhrmann, had her red panties in Evans' lap when the officer approached the vehicle, according to the incident report.
"I don't think that this will define Damon Evans," Richt said. "It's certainly a bump in the road, without question. He's a very capable man and is very intelligent and has an awful lot going for him. Damon has a lot of potential, and I think he will rise to his potential."
Richt added that the two have exchanged voice mails.
They had worked together in Athens since Richt left his job as Florida State offensive coordinator after the 2000 season. Richt lauded Evans for the emphasis he put on academics for the student-athletes as well as his management from a fiscal point of view.
Perhaps the biggest mark Evans left on Richt's program was nationalizing the schedule. Georgia has played at Arizona State and Oklahoma State the past two seasons and visits Colorado in October.
These have been Georgia's first regular-season games outside the region since a 1967 loss at Houston and a 1965 win at Michigan.
Richt doesn't think the Evans arrest and resignation will affect recruiting, and he was asked if a new athletic director might affect his job security down the road.
"I don't worry about those things. I really don't," he said. "My focus is to do my job and be obedient to my Lord and Savior."
LeMay suspended
Georgia quarterback commitment Christian LeMay has been suspended by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County school system for 30 days for an undisclosed conduct violation that occurred this past spring.
LeMay is rated the No. 3 quarterback nationally by Rivals.com and the No. 2 quarterback by Scout.com. In leading Butler High to a state title last season, he threw for 44 touchdowns and two interceptions.
Unless the penalty gets reduced through an appeal, LeMay could miss as many as eight Butler games this season, which starts Aug. 20. LeMay's father, Stacy, told the Charlotte Observer that his son may transfer to one of Charlotte's private schools if the suspension is upheld.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder committed to the Bulldogs on April 30 and still plans to enroll at Georgia in January.
Love charge upheld
Bulldogs redshirt freshman cornerback Jordan Love, who was arrested Monday night for obstruction of a police officer after failing to give his full name, had his misdemeanor charge upheld Wednesday. Love's middle name is Lawrence, but he doesn't disclose it because he was named for someone that his family no longer relates with.
Richt said he has not discussed the arrest yet with UGA police chief Jimmy Williamson.
"From what I understand, there was a communication issue," he said. "I think everyone was trying to do his job."