Purdue introduced longtime Rice administrator Tommy McClelland with a press conference on Thursday, and one particular remark doesn’t exactly win much praise for the Boilermakers or the Big Ten.
It’s a 33-minute introduction, and while McClelland is certainly qualified for such an undertaking at Purdue, a comment about the school’s in-state rival, the Indiana Hoosiers in Bloomington, came across like a character from the Sandlot. The only difference is that McClelland is 44 years old, and probably should’ve done his homework before antagonizing the Hoosiers.
Unless you have worse internet service than North Korea, it’s virtually impossible not to know Indiana is pretty darn good at football these days and are coming off the program’s first national title in school history under head coach Curt Cignetti. It was a perfect season that captured the headlines, from Fernando Mendoza to Roman Hemby, but McClelland didn’t get the memo.
It’s true, though, that Purdue needs a pep talk when it comes to football.
Purdue hasn’t posted a winning record since 2021 under former head coach Jeff Brohm. Ryan Walters sputtered in two seasons in charge of the team, and Barry Odom is now questioned after producing a 2-10 start to his tenure at Purdue. It’s also worth noting its a program that hasn’t produced a national title of its own, either.
It’s not all bad. The Boilermakers men’s basketball program reached the Elite Eight for the seventh time earlier this year, and is looking to go for a seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance in the rapidly approaching 2026-27 campaign; Likewise, volleyball and women’s soccer remain consistently ranked programs upon McClelland’s arrival.
Indiana wasn’t exactly shining off the page in football before Cignetti arrived, and its men’s basketball highs are certainly behind them these days, too. But Purdue’s new AD might want to pick up a copy of Phil Steele’s magazine before football season begins just to be safe.
