Democratic lt. gov. candidate Sara Lampe blasts Mizzou's Pinkel over comments on Joe Paterno

July 19, 2012|by Chris Replogle, KY3 News | Twitter @ky3tigertalk Or On Facebook @KYTV TigerTalk

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A lawmaker from Springfield is fueling debate over comments by University of Missouri Tigers Head Coach Gary Pinkel about former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno.

Sara Lampe, who is running for the democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, released a statement on Thursday criticizing Pinkel's comments about Paterno made at the SEC Media Days in Birmingham. It comes one week after the Freeh report was released, citing evidence Penn State officials, including Paterno, covered up allegations of child sex abuse by former assistant Jerry Sandusky.

Talking to reporters this week, Pinkel said he thought it was "wrong" to blame only Paterno. He added, "you cannot take away the greatness of this man. He was a great man. However you analyze this, all of a sudden erase all that this guy has done. You cannot do that. Nobody can do that." He then added, "it was a tragic situation involving children" and "I'm sure maybe if (Paterno) could do it over again he would have followed up a few things."

Lampe says rhetoric like this allows the child abuse to be swept under the rug.

"Paterno may have been a great coach, but as a man he failed at what mattered - protecting children from a sexual predator," said Lampe. "Coach Pinkel's defense of the indefensible indicates that he holds the same attitude that allowed the reprehensible situation at Penn State to occur; the attitude that building a successful football program is more important than everything else, including protecting innocent children from rapists."

Lampe has spent the last eight years as a legislator in Jefferson City. The former educator has campaigned on children issues since entering politics. She notes her criticism is focused on how we talk about issues such as the Penn State scandal.

"A great man never would have done such a foul thing," said Lampe. "That a great football coach did should be disturbing to everyone.."

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