Purdue's new AD took aim at Indiana in introductory press conference and misfired badly

Purdue's new athletic director wasted no time taking a shot at the Indiana Hoosiers.

During his introductory press conference on Thursday, new Purdue AD Tommy McClelland had a very clear message for recruits and current Purdue student-athletes: They want to win championships.

That's all fine and dandy. That's what every college athletic department wants to do. However, he then took a shot at rival Indiana in maybe the most tone-deaf way possible.

"We are here to win championships. If you don't want to win championships, go to Indiana."

I'm not joking. He actually said that. In light of recent events, that may not have been the best thing to say.

New Purdue AD Tommy McClelland fires tone-deaf shot at Indiana

Since it's clear that McClelland needs a refresher....

Let's start with the most recent. His comments come at an interesting time to say the least. Purdue has never won a national title in football, which the Hoosiers are the defending national champs.

Since Curt Cignetti took over the Indiana football program two years ago, he has led the Hoosiers to an overall record of 27-2 and a pair of College Football Playoff appearances. Cignetti has delivered a Big Ten title, a Heisman Trophy-winning QB, a Rose Bowl win, a Peach Bowl win, and of course, a National Championship to go along with a perfect 16-0 season.

To make things even sweeter, Cignetti and the Hoosiers steamrolled the Boilermakers in each of the last two seasons, going 2-0 and winning by a combined score of 122-3. Ouch. Furthermore, Purdue has posted back-to-back 0-9 seasons in Big Ten play. With Cignetti leading the way, the Hoosiers are among the preseason National Championship favorites heading into the 2026 season, while Purdue is just looking for its first conference win in three years.

Now onto the hardwood. The Hoosiers boast 5 National Championships in their history: 1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, and 1987. That is tied with Duke for the 4th-most all-time. Purdue has one, which came back in 1932.

But Indiana's title reign over Purdue doesn't stop at football and men's basketball. In total, the Hoosiers have won a total of 25 National Championships over 7 different sports.

Men's soccer: 8 national titles (1982, 1983, 1988, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, and 2012)
Men's swimming and diving: 6 national titles (1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973)
Men's basketball: 5 national titles (1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, 1987)
Men's cross country: 3 national titles (1938, 1940, 1942)
Men's track and field: 1 national title (1932)
Wrestling: 1 national title (1932)
Football: 1 national title (2025)

Over in West Lafayette, Purdue has won 5 national titles, with no program claiming multiple National Championships.

Men's basketball: 1 national title (1932)
Men's golf: 1 national title (1961)
Women's basketball: 1 national title (1999)
Women's golf: 1 national title (2010)
Cheerleading: 1 national title (2018)

The Indiana-Purdue rivalry has seen a little bit of everything over the years, but this is a new one. Needless to say, Hoosier fans don't appreciate McClelland's tone-deaf shot.

If McClelland wanted to make an impression, it's safe to say he accomplished that goal. It just may not have landed the way he wanted it to. Moving forward, McClelland's comment about Indiana is sure to add more fuel to an already heated battle for state supremacy.

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