Michigan State’s athletic department, which has already endured a lot of bad publicity, something that happened at Spartan Stadium ahead of Saturday’s game against Michigan is not going to help.
So, what happened? An image of Adolf Hitler was displayed on the video board.
Well before the game started, trivia questions were being shown on the video board. It’s a fairly common practice among college and pro teams alike as a way to give the fans who get to their seats early something to do to stay busy. So far, so good.
But one of the questions asked which country Hitler was born in. When the answer (Austria) was displayed, Hitler’s likeness was also shown on the board.
Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh pic.twitter.com/DvNk6A3vn5
— Alexander Haenke (@aphaenke) October 21, 2023
This was a misstep.
While Michigan State’s athletic program (and specifically football team) has endured a lot of recent bad publicity, it seemed as though most of the bad press surrounding Saturday’s game was more focused on Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal.
But judging by the response, this flub did a lot to send the negative publicity back Michigan State’s way.
I know this didn’t happen. Tell me this. Did. Not. Happen.
BARTENDER!!! https://t.co/gbcQrz77fi
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) October 22, 2023
The comments are saying it was a trivia question but… why?????? And why HIM?????? https://t.co/xmrXn5vpL6
— Reet the Naysayer (@theNFLchick) October 22, 2023
Did this really just happen at the MSU stadium?!?!?! https://t.co/BcEWSKf1yD
— Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) October 22, 2023
.@SoonerSportsTV please do not put Hitler on the video board.
I don’t think this needed to be said, but apparently someone didn’t tell Michigan State. https://t.co/uTqSl9FA3Z
— Mark (@markaduck) October 22, 2023
What the hell is going on in Michigan. https://t.co/XjuZiIpSPs
— Nolan 🌹 (@VoidOfRoses) October 21, 2023
If you need a gig, there’s about to be an opening in the Michigan State video board management staff. https://t.co/RCquYfl4iK
— Heath Cline (@heathradio) October 22, 2023
While not all trivia questions ahead of a football game need to be centered around football, topics like Hitler are best to avoid, certainly if his image is going to be displayed. Hopefully Michigan State (and anyone else who might operate a video board) learned that lesson on Saturday.
[Photo Credit: Alexander Haenke on Twitter]
