Deion Sanders says Rose Bowl should reimburse players for stolen items: ‘I’m sure Granddaddy has some money’

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 28: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes looks on from the sidelines during the first half of a game against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl Stadium on October 28, 2023 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
By David Ubben
Oct 31, 2023

Colorado coach Deion Sanders said the Rose Bowl should reimburse his players for what was stolen during the Buffaloes’ loss to UCLA on Saturday.

“All that stuff should be replaced. This is the Rose Bowl. They say the Granddaddy of them all, right? I’m sure Granddaddy has some money,” Sanders said Tuesday. “Grandpa should have some money to give these kids.”

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During Saturday’s 28-16 loss to UCLA at the Rose Bowl, multiple players and program staff said they had jewelry and money stolen from the locker room. Pasadena police are investigating the theft, public information officer Lisa Derderian told The Athletic on Monday.

Sanders said he was putting together a list of what players and staff had stolen, along with approximate values. Sanders said nothing of his was stolen during the game.

Sanders, who called the thefts a “travesty” and “unbelievable,” also called on the NCAA to do something about the crime.

“I would expect the NCAA to do something about that. These are college kids, I’m pretty sure they don’t think about insurance at this point and juncture in their life,” he said.

Sanders said the program has taught players about financial planning and financial literacy but said “we slipped” in talking to players about insuring their valuable items. He said people online arguing that players shouldn’t have valuables in the locker room bothered him.

“So they shouldn’t be blessed? They shouldn’t be blessed? That’s crazy. That’s like if you have a car in your driveway and somebody come and steal 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 were blessed and gifted by family members whatever was stolen.”

Sanders said the team plans to have its own security in the locker room moving forward.

“That was on the road,” he said. “You’re not thinking like that. … And you’re in the Rose Bowl. Who robs the Rose Bowl? Somebody.”

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(Photo: Sean M. Haffey / Getty)

David Ubben is a senior writer for The Athletic covering college football. Prior to joining The Athletic, he covered college sports for ESPN, Fox Sports Southwest, The Oklahoman, Sports on Earth and Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, as well as contributing to a number of other publications. Follow David on Twitter @davidubben