Early Tuesday morning, the NCAA released its annual academic progress rate statistics.

Those stats measure the eligibility, retention, and graduation of each scholarship athlete...and the news wasn't so good for Washington State.

The Cougs football team scored 916 on the report, which was below the standard of 925.

Because that dropped their 4 year average below that 925 standard, the Cougs were punished by the NCAA.

The team lost 8 scholarships, the most of any major conference football team, and only trailing Akron and Idaho overall.

That means this year, WSU will only have 77 scholarships, instead of the 85 they usually have.

3 other Washington State teams fell below the 925 mark...baseball, volleyball, and men's basketball...but, none of those teams will face any punishment.

And speaking of Washington State football...one of their former stars is going to be in the area in a couple weeks.

Former Coug and Walla Walla high school star quarterback Drew Bledsoe will be back in Walla Walla on May 17th.

Bledsoe will be the special guest at the 26th annual Walla Walla youth baseball and softball dinner-dance and auction.

Last year, former Mariner John Olerud was the special guest and helped raise $63,000 for the group.

This year's fundraiser will be on the 17th at the Walla Walla fairgrounds community center and all the fun gets started at 5:30.