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Jennings Today
By the People, for the People
Travis Etienne Reveals Proper Pronunciation of Last Name
Former Clemson star blames coaches for mispronunciation throughout college career
Mar. 13, 2026 at 4:13pm
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Former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne signed a four-year, $52 million contract with the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday. During his introductory press conference, Etienne revealed the proper pronunciation of his last name, blaming his Clemson coaches for not being able to pronounce it correctly throughout his college career.
Why it matters
Etienne's revelation about the proper pronunciation of his last name provides an interesting insight into his personal background and the challenges professional athletes can face when it comes to having their names properly recognized and represented.
The details
Etienne said that growing up, his last name was pronounced 'Ay-Chan,' but when he went to Clemson, the coaches couldn't get it right after 'four weeks' and he just started going by 'Etienne' instead. He said he's 'very much open to being Travis Ay-Chan again' and is glad he doesn't have to correct people on the pronunciation of his name every day in New Orleans.
- Etienne signed a four-year, $52 million contract with the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday, March 13, 2026.
- Etienne revealed the proper pronunciation of his last name during his introductory press conference on Friday, March 15, 2026.
The players
Travis Etienne
A former running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars who signed a four-year, $52 million contract with the New Orleans Saints in 2026.
Tyler Shough
The second-year quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, who was one of the best rookie arms in the league in 2025.
Alvin Kamara
A former All-Pro running back for the New Orleans Saints, whose future with the organization is currently uncertain.
What they’re saying
“Growing up, it was Travis Ay-Chan. It would be like A-C-H-A-N-E. That's how you'd always said Travis Ay-Chan. But when I went to college, I kept telling them my name everyday, everyday, everyday. After like four weeks, they just couldn't get it. So then, I was just like 'it's Etienne'. How you see it is how you say it. That's how that became.”
— Travis Etienne
“I feel like it's going to be very different. I feel like it hasn't really hit me yet. It will hit me when I'm in training camp and I look over and will be like 'oh, this ain't Trevor'. Just being with him for eight years, you kind of just grow to understand 'this is my QB.' But I'm excited for both of our journeys. I feel like we did a lot of great things together, but for both of us, our best football is ahead of us.”
— Travis Etienne
What’s next
It is currently up in the air whether Alvin Kamara will be returning for his 10th season with the New Orleans Saints organization.
The takeaway
Etienne's revelation about the proper pronunciation of his last name highlights the challenges professional athletes can face in having their personal identities properly recognized, and underscores the importance of respecting and representing people's names accurately.
