COLLEGE STATION - Texas A&M offensive line coach Jim Turner, and special teams coordinator Jeff Banks were suspended by head coach Kevin Sumlin for two weeks without pay and ordered to complete 20 hours of community service for their role in an inappropriate presentation at Chalk Talk on Wednesday, the school announced Friday.
A series of inappropriate and misogynistic slides in a presentation to a group of about 700 women gathered for the school's annual Chalk Talk event was the spark for the suspension. The slides, part of a presentation put on by Turner and Banks, were degrading to women and some featured sexual innuendos.
"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 in a statement.
"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," the statement continued.
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 the Twin City Mission," said Sumlin.
Texas A&M also released a statement from Banks and Turner addressing their role in the inappropriate presentation.
"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. 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," the statement read.
This is the second time in under three months that an Aggie assistant coach has come under fire for personal misconduct issues. Wide receivers coach Aaron Moorehead was reprimanded in May for tweets related to a recruit.