As menacing as Kansas University football player Dameon Hunt looks with that Darth Vader-like visor attached to his face mask, intimidation has nothing to do with it.
Hunt, a 6-foot-2, 310-pound senior offensive guard, wears the visor to protect his one good eye.
Back when he was just 4 years old and living in Columbus, Ohio, Hunt was playing with some other children and one of them accidentally stuck a stick in his left eye.
"My parents were really shook up at the time," Hunt said, "but I've lived with it all my life, and it doesn't affect me as far as I'm concerned."
From the time the accident happened until he was a senior at Gahanna Lincoln High, Hunt underwent a staggering 28 eye operations.
"They tried to save my vision," he said. "I had four or five cornea transplants. I've had freezing operations, lazer surgery."
None of the operations worked and today Hunt is resigned to relying on his right eye while wearing a cosmetic lens over his useless left eye.
Clearly, having one sightless eye hasn't handicapped Hunt as a football player. A three-year letterman and a fixture on the Jayhawks' offensive line, he has started 30 straight games.
When Hunt was courted six years ago -- he's a fifth-year senior -- college recruiters were not concerned about his eyesight.
"It was never an issue. It was never brought up," Hunt said. "Well, coach (Glen) Mason asked me about it once, and that was it."
While growing up, Hunt was able to participate in just about any sport he wanted except baseball. In track, he threw the shot. Earned a district championship, in fact.
"I have to compensate in some things," Hunt said. "I always make sure when I'm driving to be safe. Otherwise, I'm not going to let it affect anything."
Hunt has been mostly affected this week by the Jayhawks' humbling 51-17 loss at Colorado. Particularly poor was the KU offense, which mustered only 172 yards against a CU defense that had been surrendering yards by the bushel.
"It wasn't just one group. It was the whole offense," Hunt said. "No one excelled. I felt I played a decent game, but to win I need to play better. And as a senior I need to be a leader."
Hunt can't forget the long flight home from Boulder. The Jayhawks' charter was like a tomb.
"Nobody said anything. Everybody was really upset," Hunt said. "When you lose a game like that, the pain is something you don't forget. You want to be smiling and happy after every game."
Kansas will try to bounce back on Saturday night against San Diego State. Game time is 6 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
-- Chuck Woodling's phone message number is 832-7147. His e-mail address is cwoodling@ljworld.com.
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