New Purdue AD takes worst dig possible in intro press conference

Tommy McClelland wasted no time embarrassing himself after officially taking over as Purdue’s new athletic director.During his introductory press conference, McClelland used his opening statement to take shots at the Boilermakers’ in-state rivals, Indiana.“Every recruit, every student athlete will hear this message repeatedly: We are here to win championships,” McClelland said.“If you don’t want to win championships, go to Indiana.”McClelland’s statement was received with awkward laughter before he slightly redeemed himself when he said Purdue was going to “raise the bar on what is possible.”In principle, making fun of the Hoosiers is a great way for McClelland to endear himself with his new fans.In practice, though, Indiana is fresh off a dominant 16-0 season that ended with a national championship and included treating the Boilermakers like a doormat in a 56-3 win.As for why he made the statement, McClelland could have been trying to copy Indiana football head coach Curt Cignetti’s brash statements in 2024 that helped turn around the Hoosiers.Cignetti went viral for quotes such as “Purdue sucks, but so does Michigan and Ohio State” and “I win.

Google me” after taking the job.Prior to his team’s national championship game in January, Cignetti admitted he “was out on a limb” but “had to find out if the fan base was dead or on life support.”Well, it turns out the fan base just needed to be woken up, and Indiana went from no 10-win seasons in program history, to a Big Ten and national championship in two years.McClelland will need a similar turn around for the Boilermakers if they are to consistently win championships as he claimed.Purdue has won just three national titles across all sports in its history, most recently in women’s golf in 2010.The Boilermakers came close during the 2023-24 men’s basketball season, making the national championship game, but ultimately fell to UConn.McClelland takes over for Mike Bobinski, wh...