Colorado football coach Deion Sanders believes the NCAA and the Rose Bowl should launch an investigation about the belongings of several staff members and players being stolen during the team’s 28-16 loss to UCLA on Saturday.
Multiple players and Colorado staffers reported that they were missing cash and jewelry from their locker room. Lisa Derderian, the public information office for Pasadena, Calif., police, told The Athletic that the department launched an investigation into the alleged burglary on Monday.
As Colorado players and staff members navigate what the Buffaloes coach described as an “unbelievable travesty,” Sanders believes the NCAA should do something about the apparent crime.
“I would expect the NCAA to do something about that [theft],” Sanders said Tuesday in his weekly news conference. “These are college kids, I’m pretty sure they don’t think about insurance at this point and juncture in their life. …NCAA, you do something about everything else. Do something about this one.”
Although Sanders called on the NCAA’s involvement in this matter, it is not clear what role the sport’s governing body would play in the situation. In addition to the NCAA’s involvement, Sanders also demanded that the Rose Bowl be included in the process of reimbursing his players for their stolen items.
“Who robs the Rose Bowl?” Sanders asked. “All that stuff should be replaced.”
“This is the Rose Bowl. It’s at the grandaddy off them all, right? I’m sure grandaddy has some money,” Sanders said. “Grandpa should have some money to give these kids. I’m gonna have a list made out for these kids, and I know they’re gonna be truthful about what they lost so we can try to get that back for them. They may not be able to get the items back but we should be able to reimburse.”
While Sanders discussed financial planning and financial literacy with his players, he acknowledged that he “slipped” in the process of educating them about insurance. Currently, Colorado (4-4) is seeking to earn two more wins to become bowl eligible, and host Oregon State on Saturday.
When the program travels to Pullman, Wash., to face Washington State on Nov. 17, Sanders said the program will have its own security in the locker room.