New Purdue athletic director Tommy McClelland admitted his attempt to take a shot at Indiana, the Boilermakers' rival and reigning college football national champion, was out of bounds for his first day on the job. He told "The Pat McAfee Show" on Friday that he made an offhand, unscripted comment that didn't land well.

On Thursday, McClelland told reporters at his introductory news conference that "we are here to win championships" at Purdue, adding "If you don't want to win championships, go to Indiana." The comment landed with a thud, especially entering a 2026 season where Indiana opens a title defense and Purdue seeks its first Big Ten win since 2023.

Owning the mistake, McClelland likened the comment to his golf game: "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." He said he has 18 more holes to play. Purdue hasn't won an NCAA national championship in any sport since women's golf in 2010.

McClelland said he regretted the distraction and sees an incredible opportunity to reestablish what's possible. He offered an amended version: "We're going to build programs here that are better at winning championships than I am at one-liners."