Casey Dick was a member of the last Arkansas football team to beat Alabama 10 years ago.
Dick backed up Mitch Mustain at quarterback in the Razorbacks' 24-23, double-overtime victory over the Crimson Tide on Sept. 23, 2006, at Fayetteville. He replaced Mustain as the starter later in the season as the Razorbacks went on to win the SEC West and played in the Capital One Bowl against Wisconsin.
"It's been too long," Dick said of the Razorbacks' nine-game losing streak against the Crimson Tide.
On Monday at the Little Rock Touchdown Club, Dick and Tyler Wilson recounted their experiences playing quarterback at Arkansas. With the Razorbacks playing Alabama on Saturday, both Dick and Wilson discussed the top-ranked Crimson Tide and their matchups with them during their careers.
"There was a lot of emphasis put on Alabama," Dick said. "Not only during the season, but during the offseason."
Wilson said when he played at Arkansas, then-Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino changed the team's defensive structure during the offseason from a four-man front to a three-man front because Alabama played a 3-4 defense.
"Alabama was so important that we changed what we did on a daily basis," Wilson said. "We wanted to win that one. It's been a while since we've won one. From what we've seen, I think we may have a shot."
Dick said he had three keys for this year's Arkansas team to beat Alabama.
"We can't beat ourselves," Dick said. "We can't have turnovers in the red zone. When we get into the red zone, we have to get points. We have to be efficient.
"The second thing is, don't let them get a big play on special teams. I constantly watch Alabama and someone always has them on the ropes. But they'll get a punt return for a touchdown or a kickoff return for a touchdown. Don't beat yourself. You can't get stupid penalties."
Dick played at Arkansas in 2005-2008, leading the Razorbacks to the Cotton Bowl in the 2007 season. In his career, he completed 473 of 850 passes for 5,856 yards with 47 touchdowns and 34 interceptions.
Wilson backed up Ryan Mallett in 2009-2010 before taking over as the Razorbacks' starting quarterback in 2011. He completed 593 of 948 passes for 7,765 yards with 52 touchdowns and 26 interceptions before being drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He also played for the Tennessee Titans and Cincinnati Bengals, but has been out of the NFL for two years.
Playing quarterback at an SEC school was a role Dick and Wilson embraced, especially being in the public eye.
"People know who you are," Dick said. "This was really good or we're in trouble. You had to learn fast. You are held to a higher standard."
After the 2011 season, Wilson had an opportunity to leave Arkansas and declare himself eligible for the NFL Draft. But he didn't entertain the opportunity since he's "an Arkansas guy," being from Greenwood.
Then in April 2012, Petrino was fired. Wilson stayed for his senior season at Arkansas, which finished 4-8 under interim coach John L. Smith.
However, Wilson said he doesn't have any regrets about the 2012 season.
"You could sit here and say, 'Poor me,' " Wilson said. "You can't do anything about it. Circumstances changed and we had to put our best foot forward."
Sports on 10/04/2016