Purdue AD Calls Dig at Indiana an 'Offhand' Comment After Backlash to Remark on Championships

Purdue athletic director Tommy McClelland reflected on his remarks regarding Indiana's championships at his recent introductory press conference.

"I'm having a great day yesterday giving our vision, sharing what we're gonna do here at Purdue, how we're gonna set the standard to raise the bar for what's possible and made an offhand, unscripted comment about an in-state rival that didn't land well," McClelland said during a Friday appearance on the Pat McAfee Show (1:09 mark). "I knew it the second it left my mouth."

"I play golf, I'm sure you play golf," he added (0:10 mark). "Every now and then you line it up on the first tee and you're really excited about that round and I put it right into the water."

McClelland initially took a shot at Indiana, Purdue's Big Ten rival, at his press conference on Thursday.

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

The Hoosiers are coming off a 2025 football season in which they captured their first national championship in school history.

Indiana has also won eight men's soccer national titles and five men's basketball national championships.

Meanwhile, Purdue has captured just three national titles across all sports.

McClelland appeared to be calling out his school's rival in a similar manner as Indiana football head coach Curt Cignetti, who said at Assembly Hall that "Purdue sucks, so does Michigan and Ohio State" after he was hired by the Hoosiers in 2023.

Cignetti backed up his trash talk, as the team owns a 27-2 record in his two years patrolling the sidelines.

This includes a perfect 16-0 mark last season, which contained a lopsided 56-3 win over Purdue in Nov. 2025.

The Boilermakers are looking to take a step forward in 2026 after wrapping up a 2-10 mark last year, finishing at the bottom of the Big Ten standings.