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GAINESVILLE - The measure of a victory is not always in the score.
Sometimes, it is in the pulse. So, do you suppose heart rates went up around Knoxville? Did the pulse quicken in Tennessee's locker room?
Really, that is the most accurate barometer of Florida's victory against Eastern Michigan on Saturday. Not how far ahead the Gators finished on the scoreboard, but how deeply they burrowed in the minds of Tennessee.
Did Chris Leak show enough poise? Did the defensive line reveal enough promise? Did Ron Zook evade enough questions?
The Gators already are looking ahead because there is no reason to linger behind. A season-opening victory against a well-paid punching bag was a formality. A showdown with the Vols next weekend is the reality.
"I started thinking about Tennessee already," running back Ciatrick Fason said. "We're into the SEC now. It's time to tell the men from the boys."
And, honestly, we haven't seen enough of Tennessee or Florida to fake that call. The Gators did what was necessary to get past Eastern Michigan. Just as the Vols did against UNLV a week ago. Everything else is just details.
The statistics? Oh, they count. The victory? Sure, it has a place in the standings. Just don't extrapolate impressions because they could deceive.
"Does this game mean anything to Tennessee?" running back DeShawn Wynn said. "I don't think so."
Sure, you could draw inferences. You may have left with a supposition or two. But each comes with a caveat.
For instance, Leak could have a pretty good game next weekend if the Vols forget to use pass rushers.
And Florida's secondary will come up big as long as Tennessee is limited to one receiver per play.
Otherwise, it's difficult to judge.
"Eastern Michigan is a good team. I mean, they played hard," tackle Jonathan Colon said. "But they don't have the athletes Tennessee does. That's something we're going to have to adjust to next week."
By now, you've probably realized UF can't really win a game such as this. If the margin is too wide, the opponent was obviously inferior. If the margin is too little, then it's obviously a disappointment.
So the Gators did what they could. They won comfortably, but not outlandishly. They looked sharp at times, but ragged in between.
"There were a lot more good things that happened than bad," Zook said. "I know you can get on certain things, but I think overall those are things that are easily corrected."
Does cuffing Eastern Michigan mean anything? Yeah, it means the Gators could probably take Western Michigan and Central Michigan, too.
But don't try to read anything else into it.
Florida beat San Jose State by a bazillion last season and lost its next game against Miami. Keeping to the script, the Gators then beat Florida A&M by a gazillion and followed with a loss to Tennessee.
If you're still in need of a reality check, just remember Eastern Michigan had more total offense and first downs at halftime.
And I don't want to say the defensive backs looked shaky, but Florida's best man-to-man defender was a stadium security guard who intercepted a fan running onto the field during a rain delay.
The closest thing you got to a real answer was in the performance of Florida's defense. And, at least in the first half, it wasn't terribly reassuring. The Gators gave up too many passing yards against a team that barely threw against Buffalo last weekend.
Still, this was not a true test. It wasn't even a quiz. It was more like a review. A controlled assessment with a predetermined outcome and even a recess break.
"These games do tell a story," safety Cory Bailey said. "If we struggle against a team we're supposed to beat, it's going to get everyone talking."
The Gators did not struggle. Nor did they dominate. Really, they didn't give you much to go on at all.
You know what you saw, but you're not sure what it meant. Basically, it's the difference between what you know and what you think.
You know Leak is a year older and, based on Saturday, you think he is more polished. You know Ben Troupe will be missed at tight end, but you think O.J. Small is capable of being the next go-to receiver.
You know Ran Carthon provided stability in the backfield, but you think Fason's spark is worth far more.
You know the Gators are not the favorites in the SEC's Eastern Division, but you think they are capable of reaching the league championship game for the first time since 2000.
Saturday's game provided no absolutes.
Just 142 plays. Seven hundred and five yards. A few oohs, a couple of aahs and one soon-to-be-solved mystery.