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Former 49ers GM Scot McCloughan discusses discovering Frank Gore for the first time

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Although he is now a member of the Indianapolis Colts, Frank Gore will always hold a special place in the hearts of not only 49er fans, but also his former general manager Scot McCloughan. Now the founder of Instinctive Scouting, McCloughan spoke about his unique relationship with Gore on Saturday morning on the Sports Saloon on KNBR.

“He’s just a football player through and through,” McCloughan said.

McCloughlan first saw Gore while watching the University of Miami take on Florida Sate in 2001. As a true freshman, Gore was third behind Clinton Portis and Willis McGahee, but McCloughan was impressed with the way Gore played.

“Then they put Frank in the game and he just dominated,” McCloughan said. “As an area scout, you pay attention to that stuff, especially down in the southeast region because there are so many players and athletes.”

Three years later, Gore crossed McCloughan’s path once again, only not as a promising college freshman, but as as serious draft candidate. 

“He [Gore] calls me, I can only hear half of the stuff he’s saying because he’s going so fast, but he said, ‘I’m going first or second.’ and I said, ‘Listen Frank, I have the first pick in the third round. Because of your medical background, I can’t take you before that, but if you’re there in the third round I’m taking you.’”

“So, I took him. He came in, walked by the coaches crying and said, ‘You were the only one who was honest with me.’” McCloughan said. “Amazing.”

The rest, as they say, is history. Following his selection, Gore went on to play 10 years for San Francisco, where he consistently put up productive numbers. Including his three years with the Colts, he leads active running backs with 13,107 rushing yards and averaged 1,107 per season in San Francisco. Nonetheless, according to McCloughan, Gore’s character and their relationship has remained consistent.

“I was just out there for the Colts-Rams game,” McCloughan said. “I saw Frank on the sidelines and same guy, good dude.”

To listen to the full interview, check out the podcast below and skip to 0:35 for McCloughan on Gore.