INCOME TAX (Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014
Deferred tax assets:
Deferred compensation and employee benefits	$ 48,309	$ 51,956
Net operating losses and credits	78,838	68,736
Reserves and other accrued expenses	21,380	45,246
Allowance for doubtful accounts	3,334	3,760
Intangibles	8,086	6,707
Other	9,562	8,766
Total deferred tax assets	169,509	185,171
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets	(79,965)	(69,762)
Deferred tax assets, net	89,544	115,409
Deferred tax liabilities:
Fixed assets	102,144	99,016
Inventory	3,774	8,320
Other	3,981	4,066
Total deferred tax liabilities	109,899	111,402
Deferred tax assets, net of deferred tax liabilities	$ (20,355)	$ 4,007