06-08-2003, 10:55 AM
Dogs legend resigns from fund drive
By MARK SCHLABACH
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer
Athens -- The University of Georgia's most famous former athlete says he's resigning from fund-raising for the school in protest of UGA president Michael Adams' decision not to extend the contract of longtime athletics director Vince Dooley.
Herschel Walker, the 1982 Heisman Trophy winner and star freshman running back on Dooley's 1980 team that won the national championship, said he's resigning from the Archway to Excellence steering committee, which is trying to raise $500 million for the university.
"I'm resigning because of my loyalty to Coach Dooley," said Walker, who played for Dooley from 1980 to 1982. "Coach Dooley called me and asked me to be on the committee. Now I'm going to step down."
Adams on Thursday told Dooley he wouldn't extend his contract, which expires on June 30, 2004, and has formed a search committee to find his replacement by the end of this year. Dooley, Georgia's football coach for 25 years and athletics director since 1979, had asked Adams for four more years and then reduced his request to two.
"You give him the opportunity to walk away," Walker said. "I'm not saying Coach Dooley has to stay there forever. . . . I don't know how it was handled, but not letting a legend do it his way isn't right. I feel Coach Dooley gave his heart to Georgia, not only as a coach but also as athletics director."
Adams could not be reached for comment.
Walker says he will continue to donate money to the Georgia athletics department to fund the football scholarship he endowed several years ago.
"I'm not going to penalize players for it," he said. "I still believe in the University of Georgia. I believe in the athletic department. I believe in [football coach] Mark Richt, and a lot of the people there are good people."
Other members of the Archway to Excellence steering committee include former Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games chairman Billy Payne, former Coca-Cola CEO Doug Ivester and Atlanta car dealer Jim Nalley.
Attorney Wyck Knox, whose wife, Shell, is on the 12-person steering committee, said he turned down Adams' request for a donation last month because Adams told him he was turning down Dooley. Wyck Knox is a longtime member of the UGA athletics board and is a trustee of the University of Georgia Foundation.
"I don't know anybody who could be happy about this except for the folks in Tuscaloosa, Knoxville, Auburn and Georgia Tech," Wyck Knox said. "I can't speak for them, but I believe a lot of Georgia people will be very upset by this.
"This is going to be a divisive move and will cause a lot of hard feelings among the Georgia people. It is clearly not in the best interest of the University of Georgia to lose such a man, especially when we're in the middle of a capital [fund-raising] campaign."
By MARK SCHLABACH
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer
Athens -- The University of Georgia's most famous former athlete says he's resigning from fund-raising for the school in protest of UGA president Michael Adams' decision not to extend the contract of longtime athletics director Vince Dooley.
Herschel Walker, the 1982 Heisman Trophy winner and star freshman running back on Dooley's 1980 team that won the national championship, said he's resigning from the Archway to Excellence steering committee, which is trying to raise $500 million for the university.
"I'm resigning because of my loyalty to Coach Dooley," said Walker, who played for Dooley from 1980 to 1982. "Coach Dooley called me and asked me to be on the committee. Now I'm going to step down."
Adams on Thursday told Dooley he wouldn't extend his contract, which expires on June 30, 2004, and has formed a search committee to find his replacement by the end of this year. Dooley, Georgia's football coach for 25 years and athletics director since 1979, had asked Adams for four more years and then reduced his request to two.
"You give him the opportunity to walk away," Walker said. "I'm not saying Coach Dooley has to stay there forever. . . . I don't know how it was handled, but not letting a legend do it his way isn't right. I feel Coach Dooley gave his heart to Georgia, not only as a coach but also as athletics director."
Adams could not be reached for comment.
Walker says he will continue to donate money to the Georgia athletics department to fund the football scholarship he endowed several years ago.
"I'm not going to penalize players for it," he said. "I still believe in the University of Georgia. I believe in the athletic department. I believe in [football coach] Mark Richt, and a lot of the people there are good people."
Other members of the Archway to Excellence steering committee include former Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games chairman Billy Payne, former Coca-Cola CEO Doug Ivester and Atlanta car dealer Jim Nalley.
Attorney Wyck Knox, whose wife, Shell, is on the 12-person steering committee, said he turned down Adams' request for a donation last month because Adams told him he was turning down Dooley. Wyck Knox is a longtime member of the UGA athletics board and is a trustee of the University of Georgia Foundation.
"I don't know anybody who could be happy about this except for the folks in Tuscaloosa, Knoxville, Auburn and Georgia Tech," Wyck Knox said. "I can't speak for them, but I believe a lot of Georgia people will be very upset by this.
"This is going to be a divisive move and will cause a lot of hard feelings among the Georgia people. It is clearly not in the best interest of the University of Georgia to lose such a man, especially when we're in the middle of a capital [fund-raising] campaign."