It took only a little more than 5 minutes of discussion: The University of Idaho won't be forced to cut three sports after the State Board of Education granted a waiver Thursday giving the Vandals more time to balance their athletics budget.
The athletics department is expected to run a deficit for a second consecutive year, at just under $1 million for the fiscal year ending in June. With a policy requiring schools to eliminate athletics deficits within two years, President Chuck Staben said earlier this month he would have to cut women's soccer, women's swimming and diving and men's golf.