Optimism can be a dangerous thing. Being cautiously optimistic is typically a great trait to have, but when you cross the line of being so optimistic that you completely ignore reality, well, that’s a problem.
Purdue’s new athletic director, Tommy McClelland, has crossed that line.
The Boilermakers officially welcomed McClelland to West Lafayette on Thursday, and boy, did he make a statement during his introductory press conference.
It’s worth a quick mention that Purdue has never won a national title in football or men’s basketball before we get to McClelland’s comments. Indiana University, the school down the road, can’t say the same, but don’t let the new AD at Purdue know.
“Every recruit, every student-athlete will hear this message repeatedly: we are here to win championships,” McClelland stated. “We are here to win championships. If you don’t want to win championships, go to Indiana.”
For anyone who may have forgotten, which a few may have given how insanely and historically improbable it was, Indiana won the national championship in football in January.
The Hoosiers were the best team in the country, they employ the best coach in the sport in Curt Cignetti, and their national title-winning quarterback was drafted first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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The Boilermakers have been a better men’s basketball program than the Hoosiers in recent years, but Indiana has five national titles in hoops compared to Purdue’s zero.
Obviously, McClelland is strictly looking towards the future and not in the rearview mirror, but you can’t stand in front of a camera and essentially call Indiana little brother when its football program sits atop the college football world, and Purdue’s has won a total of three games in two seasons.
McClelland is taking over as the AD at Purdue after serving the same role at Rice from 2023-26, and it’s clear he’s swinging for the fences in his first stint at a Power Four school.