Three of the University of Hawaii’s 2010 football opponents have been slapped with scholarship penalties by the NCAA for academic deficiencies.

Colorado, Idaho and New Mexico State have all been sanctioned for failing to meet the NCAA’s Academic Performance Rate benchmark for the 2008-09 year, the NCAA announced yesterday.

The NCAA’s minimum standard for avoiding penalties is 925. The APR measures academic retention, progress and graduation. UH football had a 950.

CU, the Warriors’ Sept. 18 opponent in Boulder, loses five scholarships after posting an APR of 920. Idaho loses six scholarships and will be limited to a maximum of 79 overall after posting a 908 APR. The NCAA scholarship limit is 85 at any one time.

New Mexico State, which had a 918 APR, loses one scholarship after being docked three a year ago. In anticipation, the Aggies reduced their incoming recruiting class by one in February.

David Plati, CU associate athletic director, said the Buffaloes also prepared for the sanctions by reducing their incoming class last fall. He said CU is currently under the NCAA maximum.

UH athletic director Jim Donovan said, "losing scholarships can certainly have more than a negligible impact. Look at what San Jose State had to go through. It was very difficult for coach Dick Tomey to come in after they had been sanctioned. They were, essentially, playing with one hand tied behind their backs."

The Spartans lost five scholarships and were threatened with a postseason ban for poor APR results before Tomey took over. The Spartans have not had a winning season in three years.