Matt Horne has always been a sports fan. In fact, the 1990 Bridgeport High School graduate fondly recalls the days he suited up for Coach Bill Kerns and the Indians basketball team and the late Coach Joe Leonette and the Tribe soccer squad.

 

For those that know Horne – and know he became a big BHS football fan when brothers Joel and Andrew competed on the 2000 Class AA state title team – it’s probably no surprise that he’s a follower of football in general and West Virginia University football in particular.

 

And make no mistake about it; there may not be anyone with a better seat as to what’s happening at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown and on any road venues the Mountaineers travel. While he’s admittedly a huge fan, he’s not traveling to Morgantown each weekend or to Midwest outposts because he’s obsessed. Rather, Matt Horne and his A-plus view of the game is the result of his job.

 

For today’s game with Texas Christian University and next week’s game at the University of Texas, few will have better access and sight lines than Horne. The access has nothing to do with being a big sponsor of the program.

 

In August, Horne began his fourth season as a member of the West Virginia State Police assigned to provide security for WVU Coach Dana Holgorsen. Ironically, it wasn’t something Horne lobbied for, but it’s something he is glad he was chosen to do.

 

“When Sgt. Glenn Doyle was getting ready to retire, he recommended me to the colonel and the captain of Troop 1, primarily because I’m stationed here in Morgantown and I’ve worked on traffic detail and other issues on game days for several years,” said Horne. “I’m sure I was chosen for that reason and I’m thankful for the opportunity.”

 

Being next to Holgorsen and on the field on game days and flying across the country as a member of the State Police would probably have seemed something unlikely for Horne as a youngster. His father was a minister and the family –particularly one Philip W. Horne – founded Evangel Baptist Church.

 

When Horne left Bridgeport after a few years away from the educational scene, he landed at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tenn. He would graduate from there in 2001 and, probably not surprisingly, earned a BA in religion.

 

The degree, however, wasn’t the only positive thing he was able to obtain down south. It was there that he would meet his wife Allison; together they have four children.

 

Horne was pleasantly surprised that his wife wanted to come with him to the Mountain State and be involved with his large family and start their own. With that in mind, they moved back to West Virginia and, as his degree suggested, he began to look for work as a minster.

 

“I was going to take a position in a ministry somewhere. I went to the Southern Baptist Association and took a couple of temporary positions, but I never really felt the Lord open the door to me,” said Horne.

 

Ironically, the door that would be open would be that of a prison. A relative of Horne’s pointed him into the profession of corrections. Immediately, he knew he was heading in the right direction of what he was supposed to do.

 

“I knew almost at once that I had gotten in there because the Lord was leading me there; leading me somewhere. After working there for a while, I also had a realization that this wasn’t the side of work in this field that I needed to be on,” he said. “I took a chance and applied to the West Virginia State Police and was accepted the first time. Ever since that time, I’ve been in love with my job.”

 

That was 10 years ago. The first six involved standard duty. The last four saw him also begin the game day duties with the football team. To this day, he still remembers being approached and offered the position.

 

“When I was first asked if I was willing to do it, I think without a second of hesitation I said absolutely. I was very surprised that it was even offered to me, but I was thrilled to have the opportunity,” Horne said. “I figured I would like it, but I never imagined I would enjoy it so much.”

 

For Horne, a day involving a contest like today’s game with Texas Christian University will see him arrive four hours prior to kickoff. The first duties involve checking the stadium and also making sure parking is available for the cruisers by State Police staff is in order. After that, Horne heads to the Lakeview Resort where the team holes up prior to the start of each game. Once there, he meets with football personnel to see any items need addressed. He also helps make sure no one is filming WVU’s pre-game walk through.

 

After that, the noticeable part of Horne’s work begins. He assists with the team buses arrival at the stadium, provides security for the “man walk” and then meets with WVU football operations director Mike Montoro once inside the stadium. Montoro gets with Horne and his security partner 1^st Sergeant Greg Duckworth to let them know who will be interviewing Holgorsen in the media and where it’s going to take place. The road trips also provide security issues and other details that need addressed.

 

“The most gratifying thing is that I’ve flown all over the United States and I’ve done that as a representative of the West Virginia State Police. It’s exciting to be with the team, but to represent West Virginia and its State Police, which have a great reputation, beyond the state is something I’m very proud of,” said Horne.

 

Along with the travels, the chance to represent the state and even give relatives in and out-of-state a kick when they see him on television, Horne said he’s gotten something else out of the deal. He said he’s gotten to know and become friends with Holgorsen.

 

“He jokes around with us a lot. I can’t tell you how the public views him, but he’s very personal with us,” said Horne, a corporal. “He holds a high respect for what we do and appreciates what we’re doing for him and that certainly adds to it. That’s important to us.”

 

Horne’s faith remains important to him as well. Still, Horne said that despite his educational background and his family’s history, he doesn’t see himself getting back into the religion business.

 

“I’d do what I do now for free. It’s really that good. I know people believe we see a lot of bad things and we do see a lot of bad things in this line of work, but there are positive things that can come out of my work,” said Horne, who lives on the Harrison-Taylor County line. “I’m in a position now, and this is away from my football duties, where I can help people. There’s not much in life that’s more important than that.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Matt Horne with Dana Holgorsen prior to this year's Oklahoma game, while he's shown on the field following WVU's 70-63 win in 2012 against Baylor meeting with Coach Art Briles.