At the start of each training camp practice, a San Francisco 49ers rookie is chosen by the veterans on the team to fire up the fans in attendance. Rookie tackle Mike McGlinchey kicked off the new tradition during the team's second open practice and was even asked to do so during a recent practice with no fans in attendance.
"It's hard," McGlinchey said on Monday during an interview on the Murph & Mac show on KNBR. "There wasn't a lot of energy that day."
"Sometimes, you have to bring your own energy," responded veteran tackle and best buddy Joe Staley, who was seated right next to McGlinchey.
The idea to hype up the crowd using a rookie came from guard Mike Person, and Staley quickly approved. The veterans have tried to expand the tradition to position groups other than the offensive line. Then the suggestion was made on-air to maybe extending it to first-year 49ers like center Weston Richburg.
"It's a great idea," Staley said. "I don't know if Weston would actually fall in line with that one. He's kind of a --"
Staley stopped there but was urged to finish his thought.
"He's kind of, you know, he's an a-hole, which is what you want in an offensive lineman, so it's good," Staley continued while those in the room laughed.
As for McGlinchey's work on pumping up the crowd, he knows he has some work to do.
"Honestly, it was a poor showing on my part," McGlinchey said. "I didn't really have a plan. You've got to learn from your mistakes and get better and keep growing from it."
No word on how much McGlinchey is studying the film of his attempts to energize fans.
Oh, and you can also listen to Staley and McGlinchey sing some Backstreet Boys and Enrique Iglesias during the interview, which is probably something else the rookie tackle can work on.
The whole interview is below.