Jewelry was stolen from Colorado locker room during game at Rose Bowl on Saturday

Having just absorbed a loss to UCLA at the Rose Bowl, Colorado players returned to their locker room Saturday night to find some of their jewelry stolen.

The Pasadena Police Dept. has launched an investigation into the incident that was believed to have occurred during the Bruins’ 28-16 victory over the Buffaloes, according to Lisa Derderian, a spokeswoman for the City of Pasadena.

“That’s awful for anybody,” UCLA coach Chip Kelly said Monday. “You would think that when you go anywhere that your valuables are safe.”

Derderian said police were investigating the extent of the thefts. Darius Sanders, a member of Colorado’s social media team who is not related to coach Deion Sanders, said in a video posted on YouTube that multiple thousands of dollars were stolen from his bag in addition to several players’ chains and several coaches’ chains.

Colorado safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig retweeted a video of Buffaloes players discussing the situation after the game. One player can be heard saying, “I just got mine, bro. I had the jewelry box and everything, bro. They took it off my jewelry box.”

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“IN LOCKER ROOM,” Silmon-Craig wrote, “YOU WOULD THINK YOUR STUFF SANE MAN ITS [sic] CRAZY.”

Silmon-Craig ended his tweet with an angry-faced emoji.

Pasadena police and private security are responsible for safeguarding the Rose Bowl during events, Derderian said. There is no video surveillance inside the locker rooms.

UCLA running back T.J. Harden said the Bruins had “good security guys” to safeguard their belongings in the Rose Bowl locker room, adding that he rarely brought valuables on the road.

Happy reunion

Rather than attend spring practice one day in 2022, Martell Irby got on a bus and wandered around Los Angeles.

Getting lost in his own city was a metaphor for what was going on in his life. The UCLA defensive back wasn’t sure if he wanted to keep playing football. He returned to his San Diego home the next day, quit the sport and took a season off before rekindling his love for the game.

Irby contacted Arizona defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen, who had coached defensive line while Irby was at UCLA. Nansen offered him a spot on the team — as a walk-on. Irby accepted it gratefully and has emerged this season as a significant contributor on the Wildcats’ defense and special teams. Before the season, he was awarded a scholarship.

He’ll be reunited with several former teammates Saturday night in Tucson when the No. 20 Bruins (6-2 overall, 3-2 Pac-12) face the Wildcats (5-3, 3-2) at Arizona Stadium.

“I love Martell Irby,” UCLA safety Kenny Churchwell III said. “We used to talk about life before football, so I’m so proud of him, so grateful he’s been in my life and we’re going to talk bread after the game.”

Said Kelly: “He’s one of the special young men that went through this program. He’s a great person, so I’m really happy for Telly.”

Arizona’s roster has two other former Bruins in defensive back D.J. Warnell Jr. and defensive lineman Tyler Manoa. The Wildcats’ coaching staff has several former Bruins assistants in Nansen, quarterbacks coach Jimmie Dougherty and defensive ends and linebackers coach Jason Kaufusi in addition to offensive analyst Darren Andrews, a former UCLA wide receiver.

Etc.

Kelly on USC’s field-goal attempt from the first half against California being kicked after halftime: “That’s a first. There’s a lot of firsts in Pac-12 officiating.” … UCLA’s game against Arizona State on Nov. 11 at the Rose Bowl will be televised by Pac-12 Network starting at 6 p.m.