He talks it and he walks it, and Matt Porter does both while looking at you eye to eye.
He deserves such a compliment, too, because most of the time Matt appears on his toes and ready for anything, or so it has seemed since he moved to Wheeling and helped manufacture Twin Pops, grow vegetables, and now coach and conduct of arena football.
And don’t be mistaken, Porter wanted to suit up again and play for the Wheeling Miners when his old California high school friend Josh Resignalo initially contacted him, but his bride, children, and those who genuinely care about his safety talked him out of it.
Instead, he’s the team’s assistant general manager and defensive line coach, and now the Miners are 4-0 heading into their Mother’s Day matchup Sunday afternoon against the Michigan Avengerz at Wesbanco Arena. The franchise is utilizing local talent for the entertainment side of home games and Resignalo has recruited players from throughout the country for the on-field product that, thus far, has outscored opponents 218-62.
While his current full-time employer has committed to playing at least two more seasons inside Wesbanco Arena, Porter is “in it to win it” here in Wheeling, so local folks can be sure no matter what endeavor he embraces next, they can be sure it’s something very positive for his new, adopted hometown.
Why arena football?
The short answer is that it’s fast-paced and exciting.
This is my first experience with indoor football so I’m still learning. I’m involved because it’s an opportunity to reunite and coach with Josh (Coach Res), who was my high school teammate in Marysville, California. My dad passed away a little over a year ago and Josh was one of his favorite players, largely because they both had to overcome a lot of challenges growing up.
I like to imagine my dad is up in heaven rooting for us.
The Miners are undefeated thus far this season. Why?
Culture and connection. I’m not trying to compare making frozen, flavored water to winning football games, but I learned during my time at Ziegenfelder the impact culture and truly loving the people you work with can have on results. I see similar aspects in this Miners team.
We have high-character players who play for each other. I don’t give bold predictions like Coach Res, but I believe as long as we maintain our culture, our results will continue to be positive.
As far as attending a Miners game at Wesbanco Arena, how much is football and how much is a show?
A ton of work goes into making sure we put the best possible football team on the field. I would say the ratio between football and the show comes down to how well we execute.
So, if we are up big in a game, I think the aspects of the show can become more creative. You might see anything from our sponsors or young fans calling offensive plays to local media personalities suited up and playing in the game. If I’ve learned anything this season, it’s that there is very little that’s off the table when it comes to engaging the fans and giving them a unique experience.
What do you enjoy most about your adopted city of Wheeling?
To me, Wheeling has such an interesting story. I love that I’m always learning something new about where we have been. I also love that so many lifelong residents fondly remember aspects of the past.
However, what I enjoy the most is Wheeling’s current momentum and its potential. I spend a lot of time downtown and despite what the naysayers believe, I’ve seen so much progress, and it makes me hopeful for our future.
Where do your kids want to go most often in Ohio County?
My older three would probably say school. They go to Wheeling Country Day, and the staff there does an awesome job of engaging the kids and making learning fun.
They also love the Wheeling Park pool, the Oglebay pool, Wesbanco Arena, and The Highlands Sports Complex … to name a few others.
