Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders wants the NCAA or the Rose Bowl to repay his players’ thousands of dollars after the college athletes were robbed of jewelry, cash, and other valuable items during their game against the UCLA Bruins last weekend.
“Our kids got robbed during the game last week,” Sanders told reporters. “I think that’s a travesty. I would expect the NCAA to do something about that.”
The Buffaloes lost 28-16 to the then-No. 23 Bruins on Saturday at the Rose Bowl stadium in Los Angeles — approximately 26 miles northeast of the UCLA campus. Upon returning to their locker room, at least five players discovered they were victims of the alleged robbery.
“This is the Rose Bowl,” Sanders continued. “They said the Granddaddy of ’em all, right? I’m sure Granddaddy had some money. Grandpa should have some money to give these kids.”
UCLA officials filed a report with the Pasadena Police Department on Monday detailing the items stolen from the Buffaloes’ locker room at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles.
“The UCLA athletic department confirmed that a report was filed to the Pasadena Police Department following the UCLA-Colorado football game regarding items that were reportedly missing from the Colorado locker room,” UCLA said in a statement. “UCLA is in communication with law enforcement, Rose Bowl Stadium officials, and the University of Colorado on the matter.”
UCLA head coach Chip Kelly called the incident “awful for anybody.”
“You would think that when you go anywhere that your valuables are safe,” Kelly said.
A video posted to social media following the game showed several players lamenting about their stolen items.
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“I just got mine, bro,” Colorado safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig said. “I had the jewelry box and everything, bro. They took it off my jewelry box.”
During the Colorado vs UCLA game, thieves stole Colorado’s players’ jewelry from the locker room. Crazy 😳 pic.twitter.com/8mTeDab9zA
— College Transfer Portal (@CollegeFBPortal) October 30, 2023
Sanders reportedly said most of the players on his team never purchased insurance for the items that were stolen on Saturday.
“I’m going to have a list made out from these young men, and I know they’re going to be truthful about what they lost, so we can try and get it back for them,” Sanders said. “They may not be able to get the items back, but they should be able to reimburse them. That was unbelievable.”
“It don’t make no sense when you’re out there ballin’ and playing your heart out, and you get robbed at the same [time],” he added. “I hope we can do something about that, NCAA. You do something about everything else. Do something about that.”
Between the stolen items and losing the last four out of five games, the Buffaloes have faced a streak of bad luck.
Sheduer Sanders, the starting quarterback for the Buffaloes and Dieon’s youngest son, took several hits during the last game after the Bruins’ defense team sacked him seven times and slammed and knocked him down dozens of other times. The battering left Sanders needing an injection at halftime to keep playing.
His father and head coach said he would give Sheduer “another day or so” to heal before returning to the field.
“We want his best,” Sanders said. “He’s doing well, though, mentally, physically, as well as psychologically.”
The Buffaloes host No. 16 Oregon State Beavers on November 4.