Michigan State apologizes for Adolf Hitler being shown on video board along with trivia question

Michigan State apologized late on Saturday for an inappropriate trivia question that showed Adolf Hitler on the stadium video board prior to a rivalry game against Michigan.

The trivia shown on the video board — apparently a reel or video from a third party — asked about what nation Hitler was born in. Along with the question about Hitler was a picture of the man most responsible for perpetrating the Holocaust.

“MSU is aware that inappropriate content by a third-party source was displayed on the videoboard prior to the start of tonight’s football game. We are deeply sorry for the content displayed, as this is not representative of our institutional values. MSU will not be using the third-party source going forward and will implement stronger screening and approval procedures for all videoboard content in the future,” Michigan State spokesperson Matt Larson said in a statement.

MSU on the Adolf Hitler trivia question appearing on the vide board before today’s game at Spartan Stadium: pic.twitter.com/IqnFoAkjMH

— Tony Paul (@TonyPaul1984) October 22, 2023

The picture of Hitler, along with the trivia question, was noted by dozens of attendees who posted pictures on social media.

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— Alexander Haenke (@aphaenke) October 21, 2023

On a night where the Spartans were thumped, 49-0, by their arch-rivals at home, the snafu showing one of the 20th centuries most brutal dictators — and the associated public relations mess to clean up — is merely insult to injury.

Michigan State used an unorthodox method to deliver offensive play calls

With the possibility that Michigan had sussed out Michigan State’s signals — potentially as part of an illicit sign-stealing operation — the Spartans had to adapt. And with the information coming to light late in the week, there wasn’t enough time to alter signals.

So instead Michigan State ditched signals entirely. The solution? Quarterback Katin Houser coming to the sideline between each play to get the call from a backup quarterback on a headset.

It’s quite the rigmarole for the Spartans and resembles high school play calling mechanics, but it ensures the opposition doesn’t know what’s coming before the play starts.

I don’t know if they’ve done this all season, but it looks like Michigan State backup QB Andrew Schorfhaar is relaying offensive play calls to Katin Houser in between plays rather than using signals. pic.twitter.com/aMNYzQbnxx

— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) October 22, 2023

Though the Spartans shielded their play calls from getting deciphered, it did yielded much. The Spartans’ offense was impotent and the defense didn’t do them many favors.

Michigan State gained 182 total yards and just 49 on the ground. The Spartans were 6-for-16 on third downs and 0-for-3 on fourth downs, along with coughing up a pair of turnovers. All told, Michigan State gained just 10 first downs and was shutout 49-0, the worst shutout margin since a 55-0 loss to Michigan in the 1940s.