Purdue introduced Tommy McClelland as the university’s new athletic director on Thursday, and he immediately joined the Mount Rushmore of cringe-worthy introductory press conferences.
“Every recruit, every student-athlete, will hear this message repeatedly: We are here to win championships,” McClelland said roughly nine minutes into his speech. “If you don’t want to win championships, go to Indiana.”
McClelland’s awkward quip earned tepid laughter in the room and widespread criticism online. Even Dan Patrick couldn’t believe his ears. The Indiana Hoosiers football team is just eight months removed from winning an unprecedented national title.
NEW: Purdue AD Tommy McClelland in his introductory press conference:
“We are here to win championships. If you don’t want to win championships, go to Indiana.”
(via @BigTenNetwork)https://t.co/pwjsY4Axo9 pic.twitter.com/nqIYR1ks8Q
— On3 (@On3) August 6, 2026
And so, McClelland’s Purdue tenure began with an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show to clear his name.
“First of all, obviously, I know that they won the national championship,” McClelland said. “I was at the game with my youngest son. I mean, I’m there. But to your point, I mean, listen, what makes college athletics great is rivalries, right? I’m having a great day yesterday, giving our vision and sharing what we’re gonna do here at Purdue. How we’re gonna set the standard and raise the bar for what’s possible. And, you know, I made an off-hand, unscripted comment about an in-state rival that didn’t land well, okay?”
“I knew it the second it left my mouth,” McClelland continued. “But, at the same time, I’m also trying to establish what a standard is gonna be like here at Purdue in order for us to achieve the things we want to do, and you gotta send a message to your fan base. But listen, I play golf. I’m sure you play golf. Hey, 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. Okay? So, hey, Pat, I gotta put it back, tee it right back up, and I got 18 more holes to play.”
Sticking in the realm of football, Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti raised eyebrows during his introductory press conference in December 2023. “It’s pretty simple: I win,” Cignetti said. “Google me.”
And by January 2026, Cignetti had spearheaded the greatest turnaround in college football history.
The issue for McClelland is that Purdue football is 3-21 over the past two years, and there aren’t a lot of Cignettis lying around. Still, McClelland can get the last laugh — like the likes of Cignetti, Nick Sirianni, and Liam Coen have done before him — if he helps Purdue capture its first national championship in any sport in 16 years (h/t ESPN).
About Megan Armstrong
Since first getting published as a student by the Kansas City Star in 2013, Megan Armstrong has gone wherever curiosity and stories have taken her, specializing in sports, media, music, and culture coverage. She also has an extensive background in interviewing and profiling public figures. Her work has appeared in Billboard, Boardroom, Bleacher Report, Esquire, GQ, GRAMMY.com, NYLON, Newsweek, Teen Vogue, The Hollywood Reporter, UPROXX, and elsewhere.