Mike McGlinchey had the opportunity to host his future head coach and future position coach at his school and home on Wednesday as the 2013 Irish offensive line commit was visited by Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly and Irish offensive line coach Harry Hiestand in Philadelphia.
“They’re great guys and it was great to have them around the house and the school,” said McGlinchey. “It was an awesome time and I’m proud that I’m going to Notre Dame.
“We talked about all kinds of things. We talked about next year, scheduling, Notre Dame, family and stuff like that.”
The 6-foot-9, 280-pounder was told by his future coaches that he could have the chance to contribute right away.
“It’ll depend on what happens when I get there,” McGlinchey said. “If they feel like I’m good enough and work hard enough to compete and push people, then that’s what they’re going to have me doing. That’s going to be my mentality going in, to compete and try to play.
“Obviously, I’m going to do everything in my power to do that and it’s up to them as for what they try to do with me. It’ll be either that or redshirt.”
McGlinchey does see some positives in possibly redshirting.
“Obviously, you get that extra year to develop as a player and get acclimated to the school and stuff like that,” he said. “Getting redshirted isn’t a bad deal, but I obviously want to compete and be able to get on the field early.”
And the Penn Charter standout knows what he needs to do to put himself in that position.
“Lift, work out, watch film, keep learning and making sure I’m in the best shape possible so that I can physically compete is a big thing,” he said.
McGlinchey will watch film of both himself and of Notre Dame. He believes watching film of himself will prevent him from repeating mistakes.
“Little nuances of the game that you know you could have done better and making sure you don’t make the same mistake over again,” he said. “You just want to make sure that you’re mastering your technique with the way that you’re playing the game.”
Seeing Notre Dame on film will give him an early understanding of what he’ll be asked to do when he gets to South Bend.
“You obviously want to watch the film to know what you’re going to have to be doing,” he said. “That’s more of the mental side because you have to learn scheme and stuff like that.”
McGlinchey's parents and his five siblings met with Kelly and Hiestand before some of his extended family popped in quickly.
“My aunt and uncle came and my other aunt’s family came and my grandfather,” said McGlinchey. “They came afterward. They were only here for a little while he was here.
“It’s really special. You don’t get the opportunity to have Brian Kelly walking around your house or your school every day. You want to use that to the best of your advantage and let the people who are fans meet him and let them experience how cool it is as well. It was definitely a special day.”
McGlinchey is looking forward to National Signing Day on Feb. 6th, but doesn’t have any major plans.
“I’ll probably do something small. I’m not a flash kind of guy. I’ll probably just sit in the library or something and have a couple friends and family there and just sign the paper.
“I’m stoked. To be officially a member of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is a dream come true.”
