Two University of Idaho athletic teams have been forced to surrender several athletic scholarships after the NCAA found the programs to be in violation of meeting minimum academic progress requirements. Under the NCAA’s decision, the Vandal football team has lost eight scholarships for the 2008-2009 season because of the dismissal of seven players who were in violation of either university policy or state law. Another five football players left because of personal matters or academics; and one player decided not to return to the team because of a chronic injury. The men’s basketball team lost one scholarship, because a player transferred to another school when he was academically ineligible to play at the U of I. The NCAA rejected the university’s appeal on the scholarship losses. Idaho Athletic Director Rob Spear says the NCAA’s actions were not a surprise to the athletic department and that steps are being taken to ensure the academic success of student-athletes. Steps include: a closer working relationship between the registrar’s office and the athletic department for earlier identification of any potential academic challenges and to develop solutions for student-athletes; enhancing the academic support services staff; renovating and doubling the size of computer labs within the athletic department; and improving the lines of communication between the coaching staff, academic support staff and the registrar’s office.