Wilson’s milestones
Alabama senior quarterback John Parker Wilson — who was a combined 40-for-65 passing for 570 yards and seven touchdowns against Arkansas coming into the game — added another milestone on Saturday.

He came into the game tied with Brodie Croyle for the most touchdown passes (41) in a career. He passed him with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Julio Jones.

He still needs 190 yards passing to become the school’s all-time passing yardage leader. Croyle holds the mark with 6,382. Wilson had just 74 yards through the air Saturday.

Defense never rests
Alabama returned two interceptions for the first time in its history.

Since 2001, the Alabama defense has scored two touchdowns in a game three other times.

Against Mississippi State in 2005, Matt Miller returned a fumble 15 yards for a TD and Rudy Griffin had a 17-yard interception return.

In the 2003 Georgia game, Charles Jones had a 30-yard interception return and Juwan Garth added a 10-yard fumble return.

And against Arkansas in 2001, Reggie Myles had a 42-yard fumble return while Thurman Ward returned an interception 60 yards for a TD.

Stingy on ground
Alabama, which came into the game with the nation’s best rushing defense, gave up some yards on the ground — 92 — but not points. In fact, Alabama hasn’t give up a rushing touchdown in 20 consecutive quarters, dating back to Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox’s 1-yard run in the fourth quarter of last year’s Iron Bowl in Auburn.

Big half
Alabama’s 35 points in the first half were the most scored by Alabama in a half since the Tide put up 42 in the first half against UTEP in 2001. It is also the most in a half for the Tide under Nick Saban, surpassing the 31 scored last Saturday against Western Kentucky.

Tide-Hog connections
Arkansas secondary coach Lorenzo ‘Whammy’ Ward was an Alabama defensive back from 1986-89.

Alabama offensive lineman Alfred McCullough and Arkansas linebacker Ryan Powers, both sophomores, were high school teammates on Athens’ 2006 Class 5A state championship team. Tide running back Roy Upchurch and Arkansas redshirt freshman Kareem Crowell, an offensive lineman, were Godby High teammates in Tallahassee, Fla.

Lot of freshmen
Alabama and Arkansas had both played 15 true freshmen each coming into the game. Only Florida State (22) and Miami (21) had played more freshmen this season.

Conversely, Alabama has the fewest number of scholarship seniors in the country, nine, tied with Middle Tennessee. Those nine are Wilson, offensive linemen Antoine Caldwell and Marlon Davis, defensive lineman Bobby Greenwood, safety Rashad Johnson, wide receivers Will Oakley and Nikita Stover, and tight ends Nick Walker and Travis McCall.

Out of the blocks
Alabama has now won 17 consecutive SEC openers, dating back to a 25-8 win over Vanderbilt on Sept. 5, 1992. It is the longest streak in school history and the longest active streak in the SEC.

Best of the Day
Best start: Hard to believe it’s not the 21-0 first-quarter lead Alabama built. Instead, go with the Tide kicking off to start the second half, yet scoring less than a minute into the third quarter. Marquis Johnson made a nice catch of Casey Dick’s slant pass for Lucas Miller on the first play from scrimmage. Two plays later, Coffee scored from 31 yards out.

Best media service: Arkansas provides a golf cart shuttle from the media parking lot, saving those covering the game a lengthy — and uphill — climb to Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Sweet.

Worst of the Day
Worst start: Alabama opponents have been outscored in the first quarter, 64-0, in the Tide’s first four games. Alabama’s cumulative halftime lead is 102-20.

Worst arrival: Alabama’s pep band arrived after the game started, a couple minutes into the Tide’s first drive. Apparently, transportation troubles disrupted the band and cheerleaders’ trip to Fayetteville.