After Colorado's tough loss to UCLA back in late October, some Buffs players returned to their lockers to find valuable jewelry had come up missing.
Pasadena police have confirmed recent reports that the thefts have been tied to high school kids, while a number of outlets have shared that the kids were on a visit to the Rose Bowl as UCLA recruits.
Asked if his players got everything back, Prime responded that he hadn't touched base with his players that were victims of the theft before addressing the situation further in a manner some will find surprising.
He stood up for the kids accused of stealing, and asked for grace.
"Let's not crucify and punish these high school kids, ok? Whatever the punishment that comes along with it, let that be that, community service or whatever it is."
"Let's not abort the rest of their opportunities and lives because of a mistake. Because if we were really to do a roll call of mistakes at the ages of 17 to 18 in here I'm sure everyone would tip ouf of here with their head down like we're in church."
"Let's make sure that those kids atone for what transpired. If it's community service, or whatever it is, but they don't lose an opportunity to change their lives. They're kids. They made a stupid, dumb, idiotic mistake. Guess what? When I was 17 and 18, so did I, and so did you."
"I'm praying for those kids. It was very unfortunate that we were on the other end of that and some fans were stupid enough to say 'Oh, well they shouldn't wear the jewelry.' Ok. Well you shouldn't drive your car to work then, and somebody steal that so that's just how stupid that statement was."
"But let's pray for those kids man, and let's lift them up and hopefully, and prayerfully, they get another opportunity. What's probably going to happen, is they're probably going to name them and expose who they are and then all hell breaks loose because we're a society that likes to make a mockery of people that make mistakes in life, when all of us have."
Numerous reports have shared that the suspects were actually identified within days of the theft and the stolen items were returned.
This is the second time that valuables have disappeared from a locker room for Prime, as รฅ similar situation unfolded at Jackson State with a thief attempting to take his wallet and watch from his personal bag before a staff member intervened.
Hear Prime's full comments below.