Two Texas A&M assistant coaches were suspended for two weeks without pay for their role in a presentation slideshow at a fundraiser Thursday that included comments offensive to women.
Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin suspended offensive line coach Jim Turner and special-teams coordinator/tight ends coach Jeff Banks for "degrading comments towards women" that were part of a slideshow that was shown to about 700 attendees in the program's annual "Chalk Talk for Women."
Turner was the Miami Dolphins' offensive line coach during the Jonathan Martin hazing scandal. He was fired by Miami in February 2014 for "poor judgment."
The "Chalk Talk" event is designed to educate female fans on the game of football and is something several programs around the country host annually. Several women in attendance took offense to some language displayed on a projector screen inside Kyle Field's Hall of Champions, which included a parodied version of the Aggie War Hymn:
"We are Aggie women, we are filled with estrogen. Hullabaloo, canek, canek and back again.
"Maroon & white are the colors we love, we are putting down our dish towels and taking off our gloves.
"No more Lysol or Cascade, we want to score touchdowns and walk in this parade.
"We are Aggie women & this is our song, come on ... bring it on ... no more thong. Hullabaloo, canek, canek ... and so on ..."
In addition, Scout.com first obtained photos of slides from Thursday's event that presented "Dos and don'ts" on offensive line technique. The slides included oft-used football language with sexual overtones.
Sumlin issued a statement apologizing for his assistant coaches' behavior.
"There is absolutely no place in our program or in our university community for inappropriate conduct or degrading comments towards women, or anyone, regardless of intent," Sumlin said. "While I was in attendance at the Chalk Talk event this week, I was engaged in meeting participants, taking photographs and signing autographs, and I was unaware of the contents of Jim and Jeff's presentations until this morning.
"Upon learning of the details, I immediately consulted with director of athletics Scott Woodward, and made the decision that both Jim and Jeff will be suspended without pay for two weeks effective immediately and will serve 20 hours of community service. I have addressed the issue with both of them and have their commitment to be better representatives of our program.
"On behalf of Aggie football, I want to apologize for the comments at Chalk Talk and also for my failure to review their individual presentations. I want to thank the almost 700 women who came out this week who not only participated in the program but who supported a worthy cause in Twin City Mission."
Texas A&M begins preseason training camp Aug. 8, meaning the suspension will spill over into the first week of practice.
Turner was hired in February to coach the Aggies offensive line after previously serving in the same role in College Station from 2008 to 2011. Banks was hired in 2013.
They issued a joint statement through the athletic department apologizing for the slides.
"We want to sincerely apologize to the passionate Aggie fans and to women everywhere for our failed attempt at humor during this week's Aggie football Chalk Talk and fundraiser," they said. "We clearly understand now that our comments and slides were not appropriate or consistent with the values of our football program or our department. We must do better and we will."
It isn't the first time this offseason a Texas A&M assistant coach was disciplined by Sumlin for behavior. Receivers coach Aaron Moorehead was punished for comments he made on social media following a Texas A&M recruit's decommitment, but Sumlin later said the consequences would "remain private."