Social media reacts to Purdue AD's championships message to IU: 'Why on Earth would you say this?'

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When you spend much of your first impression outlining wanting to win championships, then mention your archrival who won a national championship seven months earlier, it won't go over too well.

It's hard to fault Purdue athletic director Tommy McClelland for wanting to make a passionate impression on the Boilermakers. The football program has won three games in two years, so why not set the bar high? After all, Indiana was the losingest program in college football history before Curt Cignetti showed up and won a national championship in his second season.

Perhaps, then, McClelland should have chosen his words more wisely when he said, "We are here to win championships. If you don't want to win championships, go to Indiana."

To be fair to the Boilermakers, the men's basketball team were national runner-up in 2024, volleyball went to the Elite Eight in December and there are recent national championships — women's basketball in 1999 and women's golf in 2010. But, that won't save McClelland or social media from the jokes.

Look back: Purdue athletic director Tommy McClelland sets championship vision at press conference


Here is how social media reacted:

Already less than impressed with Purdue’s new athletic director hire.

Why????

Why in god’s name would you say this?

Do you realize how dumb this makes you look??? pic.twitter.com/UAcyiXwZ9I

— Nick Yeoman (@NYeoman) August 6, 2026

obviously i get trash talk and i like it, i loved cig going after michigan and ohio state day 1. but like…we literally just won a championship. in football. what are you talking about man, pick a better heckle https://t.co/jgrPN2Okk7

— tommy crimes (@tommy_crimes) August 6, 2026

There's winning the press conference, then there's this...

Purdue total national championships: 4
Indiana total national championships: 24

You'd expect a guy from Rice be better with numbers.https://t.co/RGp3gArqcK

— Matt Glenesk (@MattGlenesk) August 6, 2026

Indiana has won 0 national championships in the Tommy McClelland era FYI

— Puking Chimp (@pukingchimp) August 6, 2026

New Purdue AD: “If you don’t want to win championships, go to Indiana.”

Hmm. #iufbhttps://t.co/c73uaCJE6qpic.twitter.com/HvdxkSfTSG

— Nick Rodecap (@NickRodecap) August 6, 2026

What was the reaction when Coach Cignetti said "Michigan sucks" after they had just won the National Championship?

— Jonathan Smith (@__JonathanSmith) August 6, 2026

Let's be fair and balanced here guys.
Purdue did win a women's golf trophy in 2010. I don't believe that has happened at IU. https://t.co/QEgn8ETNtZ

— Bobby Bags (@Bobby2Bags) August 6, 2026

"If you wanna lose by 60 points in football, go to purdue" is what he should have said https://t.co/RBjRiITYt9

— Mildred "Muncher" Deloitte Doolittle (DD) (@gossipp67) August 6, 2026

my brother in christ, why on earth would you say this? https://t.co/qcH2vkhnNy

— Martha the Mop Lady (@TheMopLady) August 6, 2026

counterpoint:

not watching Purdue Football the past 2 years actually makes him much better than the last guy because he's still got his eyesight

— Isaiah Walker (@walkeri141) August 6, 2026

Indiana has won zero championships during McClelland's time at Purdue. Love what he said in this press conference, and glad we brought in someone that wants to take us to national championship heights

— Paddy Gerzema (@PGerzema) August 6, 2026

IU banners might be a little dusty but we still got them hanging and all I see at Purdue is runner-up.

— Kim Jackson (@KJackson9532) August 6, 2026

He’s correct in that IU’s football title was completely illegitimate (stolen), and Pavia actually won the Heisman if not for rampant voter fraud

— jake (@sandwichandbeer) August 6, 2026

Indiana’s creative team surely will have some fun with this https://t.co/25j5JqsC4W

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) August 6, 2026

Spicy and…strange? https://t.co/fkkq0zdHgn

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) August 6, 2026

lighthearted rivalry jabs in introductory press conferences are always fun

ideally they aren’t george w bush style verbal gaffes that keep everyone from talking about everything else you said, but

— 16-0 natty quarry (@crimsonquarry) August 6, 2026

He's pulling a Cignetti upon arrival, I get it. Just know that the combined score of the last two Oaken Bucket games are IU 122, Purdue 3. Cig don't play. https://t.co/4le6rYFnw7

— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) August 6, 2026

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Social media reacts to Purdue AD's championships message to IU: 'Why on Earth would you say this?'

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