ATHENS, Ga. — The University of Georgia's new interim athletic director is hard at work but not in the athletic director's office.
Instead, Frank Crumley is at his desk in his old office making sure the day-to-day operations continue at the athletic department. Crumley had served as executive associate athletic director for finance.
"We were doing really good things before. We're going to continue to do those things," Crumley told Channel 2 Action News reporter Richard Elliot in an exclusive interview. "We're focusing on the student athletes and the coaches, helping them be successful."
Crumley takes over following the DUI arrest and resignation of former athletic director Damon Evans. A state trooper stopped Evans in Buckhead last week. A woman was in the car as well, and the trooper reported that Evans, a married father of two, had her underwear in his lap, an arrest report stated.
Evans apologized publicly for the incident, then submitted his resignation a few days later.
"It was shock. I'll be honest with you," said Crumley of the arrest.
"It was not indicative of anything I would ever expect of Damon. And it was sadness for me personally because he's my friend. Still is and always will be."
Days later, UGA President Dr. Michael Adams announced Crumley as the interim athletic director. Now, Crumley says he's got to focus on moving the department forward and repairing Georgia's image.
"We have a great fan base. Over 240,000 alumni. We want them to still be there. We're doing great things. Our student athletes are great. Our coaches are great. Our staff is great. This is the best university in the country," said Crumley.
Adams announced he would conduct a nationwide search for a new athletic director but would not rule out naming a local candidate. When Channel 2's Richard Elliot, who was Crumley's roommate at UGA, asked him if he wanted the full-time athletic director job, he said he was too busy doing the job to think about it.
"It's an interim role, and I understand that. But to be in the interim role means a lot to me. And I hope I just do right by it," said Crumley.