BOULDER — Coach Prime had some choice words about the alleged Rose Bowl crime.
“I think that’s a travesty,” CU Buffs football coach Deion Sanders said of the theft of players and staff members’ belongings while they were playing UCLA at the Rose Bowl on Saturday evening in Pasadena, Calif.
Sanders, whose 4-4 Buffs (1-4 Pac-12) host Oregon State (6-2, 3-2) at 8 p.m. Saturday at Folsom Field, said CU is assembling a list of the missing items — jewelry, personal and football items, according to Pasadena authorities — and will seek financial reimbursement if the stolen items can’t be recovered.
“This is the Rose Bowl, this is ‘The Grandaddy Of Them All,’” Sanders said. “I’m sure grandpa has some money. Grandpa should have some money to give these kids. … They might not be able to get their items back but (someone) should be able to reimburse them.”
Coach Prime also appealed on the NCAA to intervene.
“I hope (they) can do something about this at the NCAA,” the coach said. “(They) do something about everything else. … Do something about this one.”
The Rose Bowl is owned by the city of Pasadena and managed by a nonprofit.
Pasadena police are investigating the thefts, which took place during CU’s 28-16 loss to the Bruins. Sanders said the program is considering beefing up or changing its private security going forward, particularly for road games at Washington State on Nov. 17 and at Utah on Nov. 25.
“You’re in the Rose Bowl, man,” Sanders continued. “Like, who robs the Rose Bowl? Who who robs the Rose Bowl? Somebody.”
And as for the critics who accused CU players of doing too much flaunting of their bling, Coach Prime clapped back.
“They shouldn’t be blessed?” Sanders said. “That’s crazy. It’s like if you have a car in your driveway and somebody comes and steal your car, well, you shouldnt have a car? That’s how stupid that sounds.
“These are young men who work their butts off that were blessed and gifted by family members to give them whatever would be stolen.”
Police responded to a report of “grand theft” at the Rose Bowl that was made at 9:22 p.m. Saturday, which was shortly after the CU-UCLA game ended. In California, grand theft is classified as theft of property over $950 in value.
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