here's my thought. Put a large border on the quilt top. Buy a flat sheet that coordinates with the quilt. Add a double faced border in the same print as the quilt top border to the top of the flat sheet. Stitch the sides of the flat sheet / border to form a pocket. Use heavy duty snaps to hold inside of added flat sheet border to outside of quilt, perhaps every 10".
Ok, thinking about it, he will still not like the top sheet. Why not make him a bed runner to go with a solid comforter. You could even make him quilted pillowcases- a few sets that go with the bed runner. They have masculine patterns out there.