College football announcer responds to claims calling Noah Knigga’s name would get him fired…but he’s still wrong

The announcer responsible for calling Eastern Michigan games slammed suggestions he would lose his job after the team signed Noah Knigga.

But Tom Helmer still slightly botched the linebacker’s name while defending.

The 6-foot-2 Knigga committed to Eastern Michigan earlier this month. It went viral a few months ago, due to his catchy last name which could sound like an offensive racial slur if pronounced incorrectly.

Knigga explained how to pronounce his name in an interview with former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III in January. ‘It is Kuh-nay-guh,’ he said.

But that didn’t stop fans on social media from spreading jokes and memes at Knigga’s expense following the three-star linebacker’s commitment.

High school sports star Noah Knigga committed to Eastern Michigan earlier this month

Tom Helmer said: “My pronunciation skills this season will be the best in the country, bar none”

“RIP Eastern Michigan Broadcasters,” an account on X, formerly Twitter, wrote in response to news of Knigga’s decision.

Helmer, the Eastern Michigan Eagles play-by-play caller, fired back, insisting: ‘Some people seem to have very little confidence in me’

On his TikTok channel Hooked on Helmets, the announcer continued: “The jokes have been flying online about this player’s last name.

“He recently committed to play football at Eastern Michigan, and people joke that his name is going to get a broadcaster fired.”

He added: “My pronunciation skills this season will be the best in the country, bar none.”

Helmer then sought to clear up any lingering confusion regarding Knigga’s name, but got it slightly wrong. “The correct pronunciation of his name is Noah Kuh-nig-uh.’

The now-viral 6-foot-2 Knigga committed to Eastern Michigan earlier this month