Furfari At-Large
December 22, 2004 06:00 PM | General
At 6-4 and 275 pounds, he saw action at both tackle and middle guard as the Mountaineers posted consecutive records of 8-4, 7-3-1, 4-7 and 6-6. Five of the losses during his senior season came by a combined total of just 15 points.
Hunt, a native of Ripley, now resides on Grafton Road in the Morgantown area. He's associated with the Garrett Mining Industrial Co. That firm is based in Oakland, Md. "I've been selling mining implements to coal companies in this area ever since I graduated 17 years ago," he said in a recent interview. "I sell supplies and different types of tools and equipment.
"Just like Coach (Don) Nehlen, I'm a friend of coal." Hunt also owns property in Preston County and is licensed in the real estate business. So he spends most of his time on the road, but he admittedly enjoys what he's doing.
Before enrolling at WVU, he was a two-time all-state and all-southern selection. As a senior at Ripley High, he also was the 1982 recipient of the Hunt Award which is presented annually to the state's most outstanding lineman.
Hunt, a four-year letterman as a Mountaineer, won the prestigious Ira Errett Rodgers Memorial Award in 1987.
That goes to a player who has shown "high leadership and academic qualities as well as football performance." He was a hard-nosed player whose chief attributes were determination and dedication. He was honored as a co-captain of the 1987 squad.
Hunt logged 241 tackles, including 140 solo stops. His total ranks 37th on the all-time tackle list. He also had 14 quarterback sacks and eight tackles for lost yards.
"I really enjoyed my years at WVU," he said. "It was the best thing I ever did. It was great playing for Coach Nehlen."
Hunt received his bachelor of arts degree in communications in December 1987
"I did some work in radio broadcasting as a color commentator for high school games back home in Ripley," he recalled. "That was fun."
Hunt and the former Mindy Taylor were married on May 28. Each has children from a previous marriage.
Highlights of Hunt's football career included appearances in the Bluebonnet Bowl and the Sun Bowl. WVU upset Texas Christian 31-14 on New Year's Eve of 1984 at Houston and lost to Oklahoma State 35-33 on Christmas Day of 1987 at El Paso, Texas.
WVU earned the Sun Bowl berth by coming oh-so-close to spoiling Syracuse's perfect 1987 season. The Orange needed a two-point conversion to pull out a 32-31 win in both teams' finale at the Carrier Dome.
