California budget cuts, furloughs will impact college sports - Jack Carey, USA TODAY

California's severe budget crunch is about to affect collegiate sports in the state. And with preseason practices about to begin, public universities are suddenly scrambling to minimize the impact.Unions representing state faculty members and employees agreed last week to accept furloughs two days a month to help close a $584 million budget deficit caused by a 20% reduction in state funding. Schools in the University of California and the Cal State systems are starting to formulate plans on how to deal with the furloughs, which could lead to forced in-season days off for some coaches, and athletic departments are trying to balance the coaches' furloughs with game and practice schedules and the needs of athletes.