Deion Sanders on theft of players' belongings: 'Who robs the Rose Bowl?'

Colorado football coach Deion Sanders called on the NCAA to do something about the fact that his players and staff were apparently robbed at the Rose Bowl Saturday night during their 28-16 loss against UCLA.

He said several of his team members reported missing cash and jewelry from their locker room and will make a list of missing items hoping for reimbursement. Sanders even suggested the Rose Bowl should pay for it.

Pasadena police are investigating and have been in contact with Colorado, UCLA and Rose Bowl officials.

“Who robs the Rose Bowl?” Sanders asked Tuesday during his weekly news conference in Boulder.

It’s not clear what role the NCAA would have in an alleged theft that occurred during a football game. But Sanders wants them to have one in this.

“NCAA, you do something about everything else,” said Sanders, whose team (4-4) faces No. 19 Oregon State (6-2) Saturday night on ESPN. “Do something about this one.”

The NCAA declined comment Tuesday. Pasadena public information officer Lisa Derderian said it was "only the Colorado locker room and players" who reported missing items after the game.

“All that stuff should be replaced,” Sanders said. “This is the Rose Bowl. It’s at the grandaddy off them all, right? I’m sure grandaddy has some money. Grandpa should have some money to give these kids. I’m gonna have a list made out from these young men, 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 them.”

Sanders said he himself didn’t have any items stolen but that a camera worker had a “significant amount of cash” missing. In the future, he said his team would not depend on “someone else’s security” to safeguard their belongings. He said he wished his players had insurance but didn't. "The insurance part of it, we slipped, and we didn’t really educate on them on that," Sanders said.

Deion Sanders talks about 'idiots online'

Like at many stadiums, a private contractor is used for security at the Rose Bowl. The alleged theft came while millions of other eyes were on the field. The game was officially a sellout with 71,343 and had 4.7 million viewers on ABC as the third-most watched college football game of the day, according to Sports Media Watch.

Sanders said he also is aware of "idiots online" who blamed the theft victims for having the things that were stolen, including necklaces.

"That’s crazy," Sanders said. "That’s like if you have a car in your driveway and somebody come and steal your car. (Critics might say,) 'Well you shouldn’t have a car.' That’s how stupid that sounds. These are young men that work their butts off or they were blessed and gifted by their family members to give them whatever what was stolen.”

Shedeur Sanders update

Sanders said his quarterback son Shedeur was “doing well” after being sacked seven times by UCLA and receiving a painkiller injection at halftime. Deion Sanders still planned to give him more time off from practice this week. Colorado has given up 42 sacks this season, which ranks second in the nation for most sacks allowed behind Old Dominion, which has given up 43.

Last season, when the Buffaloes finished 1-11, the team gave up only 23 sacks. Deion Sanders said he had a private personal meeting with his offensive linemen after talking about their struggles Saturday night in the postgame news conference.

“I have the utmost thought process that those guys are gonna step it up tremendously and you gonna see a more cohesive, more aggressive, more physical, more prepared group than ever before this weekend,” he said. “I really do believe that.”

Alton McCaskill asks to redshirt

Running back Alton McCaskill has asked to redshirt this season after playing in only four games for Colorado, Deion Sanders said. The transfer from Houston was coming back from a knee injury that forced him to miss all of the 2022 season. This season he gained just 59 yards on 14 carries. In 2021, McCaskill rushed for 961 yards and 16 touchdowns and was named the rookie of the year in the American Athletic Conference.

Colorado ranks 128^th out of 130 teams nationally in rushing yards per game with 78.6.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com