Meet Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Russell Okung. Alongside his lengthy career across some of the NFL’s best teams, Okung is going viral for telling the world about his alma mater—”Wakanda Tech.”
Okung gave a quick shout out to Black Panther’s East African nation during a roll call on NBC’s Sunday Night Football, where he introduced himself as if he really studied at “Wakanda Tech.”
Wakanda Tech forever. 🙅♂️ pic.twitter.com/sNd7yLyA9m
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) December 3, 2018
For the uninitiated, football players regularly introduce themselves through roll call segments on TV. It’s an opportunity to put a face to a name for each team’s roster, plus it lets players give a quick shout out to their high school or college. Key & Peele famously parodied it years ago with progressively stranger names, like “X-Wing @ Aliciousness” and “Torque [Construction Noise] Lewith.”
Okung clearly took advantage of the opportunity for the better, and he made waves around the internet.
Did I just hear a professional football player say he went to “Wakanda Tech?”
— J (@BeardAndBoujeee) December 3, 2018
https://twitter.com/thorstrilogy/status/1069406876821946368
“Russel Okung,” y’all! 🤣🤣🤣 Listen! This dude said he played Wakanda Tech!!!🤣🤣🤣. He actually played for Oklahoma State! Hilarious!!! pic.twitter.com/eDJlmyCTFL
— Queenyt70 (@queenyt70) December 3, 2018
Now here’s a guy
— Cris Collinsworth (@N0wheresaguy) December 3, 2018
Did he just say Wakanda Tech?! #LACvsPIT 😂😂😂
— Safid Deen 💯💯💯💯 (@Safid_Deen) December 3, 2018
Manager: Why don’t we all go around the room and say who you are and where you’re from?
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) December 3, 2018
Me:
https://t.co/FwgBzQ73A9
https://twitter.com/Brannin/status/1069402693800787971
Russell Okung really said he went to ‘Wakanda Tech’ during player intros pic.twitter.com/wavTvQ3m7x
— SB Nation (@SBNation) December 3, 2018
WAKANDA TECH FOREVER 🙅🏿♂️
— ESPN (@espn) December 3, 2018
📺: NBC #LACvsPIThttps://t.co/tQkIQvbkhE
https://twitter.com/FunnyMaine/status/1069468316559949824
Someone even changed Okung’s Wikipedia page to say he went to Wakanda Tech.
Y’all too quick with this 😂 Wakanda Tech pic.twitter.com/GMZBcDp3w7
— Ken ✭ (@lilkenchi) December 3, 2018
My man @RussellOkung really went to Wakanda Tech 😂😂 sorry @OSUAthletics pic.twitter.com/FBr5uMM6qY
— Ryan (@SecuredTheBags) December 3, 2018
Most of all, the internet gave Okung a proper Wakanda salute.
Russel Okung said Wakanda Tech that is incredible pic.twitter.com/61JEamnMF7
— Matt Losee (@Matt_LowC) December 3, 2018
RESPECT pic.twitter.com/57A2KTcf5b
— RTC (@RaycupidRaynell) December 3, 2018
— 𝓔𝓻𝓲𝓷 𝓜𝓪𝓮 (@MaerinB) December 3, 2018
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Black Panther remains a force to be reckoned with on the internet, thanks in part to the sheer memes that resulted from the film over the past year. It’s good to know Okung is happy to join in on the fun as the world learns more about the strange, wonderful nation of Wakanda.