Sanders Wants NCAA, Rose Bowl to Reimburse Players

Colorado Football Coach Deion Sanders wants his players reimbursed for the items that went missing from the Colorado locker room while the Buffaloes played No. 20 UCLA at the Rose Bowl over the weekend, according to the Associated Press.

Sanders said the NCAA and maybe the Rose Bowl should have to take up the mantle.

“That don’t make no sense when you’re out there balling and playing your heart out and you’re getting robbed in the same aspect,” the coach said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. “So I hope we could do something about that, NCAA. … When it comes to kids, in regards to the kids, NCAA, you do something about everything else — do something about this one.”

Pasadena Now reported on Monday that the City confirmed reports of thefts of jewelry and other items from the University of Colorado football players’ Rose Bowl locker room during Saturday night’s game against UCLA. The Pasadena Police Department is currently investigating.

“The Pasadena Police Department was notified of a theft that took place in the University of Colorado locker room during the UCLA vs. Colorado football game at the Rose Bowl,” said Lt. Tim Bundy.

“The theft reportedly involved several pieces of jewelry and other miscellaneous personal and football items. At this point, the value of the loss is undetermined. Detectives will check the area for relevant security camera footage as part of the investigation and will review any existing video. Anyone with information on the theft should contact the Pasadena Police Department at 626-744-4241.”

City spokesperson Lisa Derderian said that the investigation is being conducted in collaboration with UCLA.

Sanders is helping in that regard, too, by compiling a list of what was lost by players and staff members.

“All that stuff should be replaced. This is the Rose Bowl. This is the ‘The Granddaddy of Them All,’ right?” Sanders said according to the story. “I’m sure your granddaddy had some money. Grandpa should have some money to give his kids. … They may not be able to get the items back. But we should be able to reimburse them. That was unbelievable.”

Sanders said the team is looking into possibly bringing in its own security to protect the locker room.

“Who robs the Rose Bowl? Somebody,” Sanders said. “A lot of the things were emotional things that were given to them, like chains and necklaces and gifts. You’ve got some idiots online saying, ‘They shouldn’t have that.’ So they shouldn’t be blessed? That’s crazy. It’s like if you have a car in your driveway and somebody comes and steals your car, ‘Well, you shouldn’t have a car.’ That’s how stupid that sounds.”

“These are young men that worked their butts off or they were blessed and gifted by their family members to give them whatever was stolen.”

The reports first surfaced shortly after the game when players were overheard discussing the thefts.

A video related to the thefts also emerged. One player, visibly upset, was heard saying the situation was “messed up.”