A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Defensive standout on Conner football team taking part in junior firefighter training program


By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter

Matt Campbell worked hard to earn a starting spot on the Conner football team’s defensive front line this year and finished with 56 tackles, including six quarterback sacks, one interception and a fumble recovery.

Last week, Campbell received a Top 26 Award at the Northern Kentucky Football Coaches Association banquet for his achievements, but the 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior doesn’t know if he’ll continue to play football in college. 

Matt Campbell has worn football gear on Friday nights (above) and firefighter gear during emergency runs (below) while attending Conner High School.

His mind is set on becoming a firefighter, just like his father and grandfather, and he spent the last three years in a training program that should help him accomplish that goal.

“It’s kind of up for grabs,” Campbell said of his future plans. “I want to play football (in college), but I don’t want to throw something away that I’ve worked hard for either.”

Three years ago, Campbell enrolled in the Kentucky Junior Firefighter Program through the Burlington Fire Protection District. It gives teen-agers an opportunity to train and make emergency runs with volunteer and professional firefighters to learn everything they do. 

Campbell already had a good idea of what the job entails. He grew up around the firehouse because his father, Eric, is a lieutenant on the Burlington Fire Protection District’s professional staff.

“My dad said, ‘Try this (junior program) out and if you like it then stay, if you don’t, then you don’t have to come back,’” Campbell recalled. “The first day I went up there I
knew I️ was interested and I just kept going with it.”

The Junior Firefighter Program is open to male and female students between the ages of 15-18. Fire districts must follow guidelines established by the Kentucky Fire Commission regarding the students’ training and they are not permitted to engage in any primary firefighting duties. 

When they go on fire calls, students handle support roles under the supervision of a qualified firefighter. Campbell’s primary responsibility has been dragging hoses from the fire trucks to hydrants. He said there’s an adrenalin rush when he arrives at a fire scene.

“You get there, see it and your mouth just drops and your heart starts to beat faster and you just go to work like it’s a normal job,” he said. 

There are other Conner students involved in the Junior Firefighter Program, but Campbell said he’s the only football player among them. During the season, he had to rush home after practice on Monday nights, take a quick shower and get to the fire station in time for training sessions. 

His coaches and teammates on the football team were impressed with his ability to handle another extra-curricular activity and continue do well in school.

“They kind of figured I was doing it to follow in my dad’s footsteps, but they thought it was pretty awesome that I already had a plan set out for what I wanted to do (after graduation),” Campbell said.

He has already taken fire science courses at Gateway Community and Technical College in Florence and plans to pursue a degree in that field after he graduates from high school. 

The fire district has a tuition assistance program for volunteers if he wants to continue his studies at Gateway. He’s also looking into the fire science program at Eastern Kentucky University, which has a football team.

“I plan to go down there for a visit and look at their football program,” Campbell said.


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