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Purdue AD takes indefensible shot at Indiana during introductory press conference
By Ethan Stone
Published:
New Purdue athletic director Tommy McClelland took an interesting approach to his introductory press conference on Thursday.
While addressing reporters, McClelland tried to offer some school spirit by mentioning Purdue’s rivalry with Indiana. “Every recruit, every student athlete will hear this repeatedly: We are here to win championships,” McClelland said. “If you don’t want to win championships, go to Indiana.”
It started as a decent, pretty typical new AD message there, McClelland. Probably could have done without that last part, though.
About 7 months ago, the Hoosiers won a national title in football, the biggest sport by far for every Division I program across the country. Indiana football beat Purdue by a combined score of 122-3 across the past 2 seasons. Additionally, the Hoosiers are right in the mix to win it all it once again as Curt Cignetti has reloaded his roster in Bloomington.
In other words, now’s not really the time to be comparing trophy cases.
Purdue’s athletic program has not won a Division I title since its women’s golf team took home the 2010 national championship. The gridiron Boilermakers have one unclaimed national title from 1931 and haven’t won the Big Ten in over 25 years.
As always, the Boilermakers and Hoosiers are set to face off this season during Rivalry Week, Nov. 28.
Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Tradition.