Purdue AD Makes Bizarre Comment About Indiana, Championships During Introductory Press Conference
Purdue's new athletic director, Tommy McClelland, made a controversial comment about Indiana University during his introductory press conference, suggesting that those who don't want to win championships should go to Indiana. The remark was met with awkwardness, especially given Indiana's recent national title success.
Why it matters
It illustrates the intense, often performative nature of college sports rivalries and the pressure on athletic administrators to build brand identity.
00:54 Featured Video You Could Design CFB Team's Opening Drive 🫵 Home College Football Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images College Football Purdue AD Makes Bizarre Comment About Indiana, Championships During Introductory Press Conference Adam Wells Aug 6, 2026 Tommy McClelland wasted no time endearing himself to Purdue now that he has officially taken over as the university's new athletic director.
During his introductory press conference on Thursday, McClelland used part of his speech to shade the Boilermakers' chief Big Ten rival by calling out Indiana University.
Akron Sells Out Suites 🫨 Bleacher Report Top Teams That Badly Need a WR1 🆘 Bleacher Report Belichick's Son Goes on Leave Bleacher Report "We are here to win championships," McClelland said. "If you don't want to win championships, go to Indiana."
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