Oden, Stumon suspended for No. 17 Arkansas' opener

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas offensive lineman Anthony Oden and fullback Van Stumon are suspended for the No. 17 Razorbacks' season opener against Tennessee Tech. Coach Bobby Petrino didn't say why the two are being held out for Saturday's game. Each was arrested during the offseason on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.Petrino said as of Wednesday, the plan was to sideline the two for one game. Oden, a sophomore, started one game last year. Stumon, a senior, started two.

Razorbacks work on all aspects of game in practice

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - The Arkansas football team is working from a broad agenda as the Razorbacks prepare for the season opener Saturday against Tennessee Tech. Defensive coordinator and secondary coach Willy Robinson says the Arkansas team is peaking at the right time. He says during Wednesday's practice the players were much faster and more efficient.

Arkansas offensive line finding its groove?

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - When No. 17 Arkansas opens its season against Tennessee Tech on Saturday night, it will do so with an offense that led the Southeastern Conference in scoring last season. It's an offense with a line much more confident in its ability and knowledge of the Razorbacks' system than it was two years ago in coach Bobby Petrino's first year. Offensive tackle Ray Dominguez says the line is a lot morecomfortable now, entering Petrino's third season with the team. The offense as a whole showed improvement last season as Arkansas finished 8-5, leading the SEC in average points scored and finishing third in total offense.

Har-Ber and El Dorado top Ark. big-school polls

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Springdale Har-Ber and El Dorado are overwhelming favorites to successfully defend state championships they won in Arkansas high school football last year. Balloting by Associated Press-member sports writers and broadcasters put Har-Ber at No. 1 in the poll covering all high schools, while El Dorado was picked as the top team in Class 6A. Har-Ber holds the edge over 7A-West rival Bentonville, while El Dorado leads conference rival Lake Hamilton in the balloting. Tops in 5A is Watson Chapel, while Shiloh Christian leads Class 4A. Fountain Lake and Bearden were voted No. 1 in Classes 3A and 2A. Shiloh and Fountain Lake won titles last year, too. A handful of teams opened their season Monday and Tuesday; most teams start their seasons Friday.

Ark. St. hires former Miss. St. coach as assistant

JONESBORO, Ark. (AP) - Former Mississippi State basketball coach Richard Williams has been hired as an assistant at Arkansas State. Williams, who took the Bulldogs to the 1996 Final Four, was announced as a new member of the Red Wolves' staff Monday. He'llwork for Arkansas State coach John Brady, who also took a Southeastern Conference team to the Final Four when he was LSU's coach in 2006. Brady also named Isaac Brown associate head coach Monday. Brown was added to the staff this offseason after three years at Arkansas. Williams coached Mississippi State for 12 seasons, going 191-163. Brady worked with Williams as an assistant coach at Mississippi State.

Cowboys coach undecided on using starters Thursday

IRVING, Texas (AP) - Dallas coach Wade Phillips has watched the tape and wonders what all the fuss is about. The Cowboys coach says his team isn't playing that badly this preseason. He says other teams are game-planning and he's not. He also said he hasn't decided whether to use his starters in the final preseason game Thursday night against Miami. He said rookie receiver Dez Bryant, linebacker Keith Brooking, defensive end Marcus Spears and safety Gerald Sensabaugh have been cleared to practice but may not play Thursday. They're expected to be ready for the opener Sept. 12 at Washington. Right tackle Marc Colombo is expected to practice next week and could play against the Redskins.

Cowboys release Hudgins, Sicko

IRVING, Texas (AP) - Wide receiver Terrell Hudgins and tight end Scott Sicko have been released by the Dallas Cowboys. The move was announced Monday. Both players signed with the Cowboys as free agents following the 2010 draft. The 6-foot-4, 251-pound Sicko created an Internet stir when, after going undrafted, he said he was turning down the NFL to continue his education at New Hampshire. Sicko later ended up with the Cowboys. Hudgins played college ball for Elon.