TUCSON, Ariz. -- Arizona linebacker Tra'Mayne Bondurant would have regretted not being there and not having the impact he did in Arizona's stunning 49-45 win against California last weekend.
The important thing was, well, that he was -- front and center, "creating chaos" -- for a defense that so desperately needs it as it moves into the tougher parts of its schedule. Now that Arizona is 4-0 and facing No. 2 Oregon next week it needs playmakers like Bondurant more than ever.
It was perfect timing to be part of it, but isn't that what Bondurant is all about? Being at the right place, right time in his return coach Rich Rodriguez's doghouse -- which he was in since the first day of fall camp after showing up out of shape. Arizona needed Bondurant and he delivered.
"I'm truly blessed," Bondurant said this week in talking to the media for the first time since camp started. "I sat there in silence a couple of moments (after Saturday's win) just trying to figure out everything. It was a great experience for me and a good feeling. It was a great team win and everybody was happy. We'll try to carry it over to next week and get the job done."
Before you move forward, you must revisit the past.
And the past few weeks for Bondurant arguably were been some of the toughest he's ever had to go through. Not getting into specifics, he said family and personal issues had him coming into camp out of shape and perhaps out of touch. But he never thought about not coming back.
For about a 24-hour period it wasn't even clear the former standout player was even on the team. But he came back, doing everything he needed to do to get back in pads and back in shape.
"I was disappointed he didn't make the commitment this summer to be in shape and he had to pay the price but to his credit he did (what he had to do to get back)," Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez said. "He's worked hard and worked his way back into the rotation."
Actually, he's a starter again, playing what amounts to the outside linebacker spot from his more usual spot of defensive back. Bondurant likes the change, feeling he has an advantage over the bigger offensive lineman because of his speed.
It did take some time to get it all back, however, although he did play bit parts in the previous three games. Speed thrills and Bondurant does exactly that, coming up with huge plays at the right time.
"He does have the ability to make plays," Rodriguez said. "He did make mistakes too, but he's a talented guy and it was good to get him going. We need big plays on defense."
Big-play Bondurant. He came up with an important on-sides kick late in the fourth quarter and a "hey, there's the ball I'd better grab it" interception.
"Having those plays was something special to me," he said. "It was a great relief (to) for finally getting everything off my chest and off my shoulders, going out with my teammates and laying it all on the line."
Seems to happen to him a lot. How?
"You just have to be at the right place at the right time, sometimes it isn't me and my teammates do something to be in position," said Bondurant.
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He attributed it to being a former quarterback in high school and knowing what they intend to do. He admitted to being lucky on the interception, but it seems he gets lucky a lot. It just doesn't happen. Some players have that serendipity.
"He's just a ball player," said former Arizona linebacker and teammate Jake Fischer. "It doesn't matter where he is on the ball field somehow the ball gravitates to him. It never fails. Even in practice it's just dumb. He'd be walking on the sideline and the ball finds him. I don't know how he does it."
Scooby Wright called him "magnate" like.
The good thing is football pulled him back from whatever personal issues he was going through to start the season. Never mind what he had to do get back, including caring large loads of weight over his shoulders as he walked the stairs at the practice field, not being allowed to suit up with his teammates.
The long road indeed.
"It was a humbling process for me, really," he said. "It made me realize how much I miss football and how much I do need football ... and how much I cared about my teammates, and the program. It showed how important it was."
Sometimes life lessons don't come easy or there is a price to be paid. Bondurant learned his.
"It was definitely needed," he said when asked if he probably needed to be humbled. "It's something I wish didn't go (the way it did), but it was a blessing for me in many ways, a perfect situation to come back and do what I can do."
Then again, he's perfected the art of perfect timing.
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