What Have We Learned?

What have we learned this weekend?

On a personal note, I have learned that I need to throw caution to the wind more often, and just write whatever the hell pops into my mind. I say that because I never doubted, not once, that the United States squad would win the Ryder Cup, Tiger or no Tiger. And I realize that writing that now, after the fact, is as useful as you-know-whats on a boar, so you'll just have to trust me.

ESPN.com's Bill Simmons has advanced the "Ewing Theory" -- team loses superduperstar, team succeeds as a result of reduced pressure and tension -- so I will forgo the psychobabble about why this year's US Ryder Cup squad gained from Tiger's absence. But it was there, perceptible throughout the weekend. Did you see the look on Phil Mickelson's face when interviewed late Sunday afternoon?

Total relief, fueled by a lack of anxiety. Tiger, through no fault of his own, completely intimidates his American counterparts during the Ryder Cup. And as hard as he may try to be "one of the guys," it never works. He's just too, umm, Tiger. Dorky in a kind of best-player-that-ever-lived sorta way. Like Wayne Gretzky.

However, when the star is absent, nobody expects the backup singers to actually win...and that liberates them just enough to go out there and kick some Euro tush.

With Tiger rehabbing his surgically repaired wheel and absent at this year's Cup, the mere mortals on the PGA Tour were free to be who they are: a relentlessly talented, gutsy, in-your-face bunch. I would have bet the farm on a United States victory. In fact, I wish I did.

Not only did the United States bring the Ryder Cup back to these shores for the first time since the controversial '99 win at Brookline, they also served to identify the one player who might actually have both the game and the gumption to challenge the aforementioned T. Woods for the next decade. If you take nothing else from the 2008 Ryder Cup, remember the name of Anthony Kim as the player who is going to make the non-Tiger golf world interesting from now until whenever. Considering Sergio Garcia's record at this event, it's tough to overstate how big Kim's win over Garcia in Sunday singles really was. App State over Michigan in 2007 doesn't quite capture it; this was more like Brett Favre quarterbacking Southern Miss to a win over Florida State in 1989. In both cases, we're talking about the dawn of a new era.

When all is said and done (and when is that, really?), Anthony Kim will finish his professional career with more wins in majors than Phil Mickelson. Go ahead, write it down. Remember, I'm the guy who coined the phrase "Big Five."

What else did we learn this weekend?

In college football, we learned that Tennessee is horrible. Which means, by extension, that we really have no idea how good Florida might be. The Gator offense has certainly scored plenty of points, but they've yet to truly exploit the talents of players like Chris Rainey, Jeff Demps, or the still-recovering Percy Harvin, so I have no idea what to expect from this team for the rest of the season.

So far this year, Florida has blown out an overmatched Hawaii team at home; played a desultory first half against Miami (again, at home) before the athletes took over the game in the second half; and now watched as Tennessee lit itself on fire in Knoxville with ineptitude in the goal-line offense, fumbles, interceptions, and stupid penalties. None of which tells us anything about Florida's offense, really.

Consider this: Florida has scored 14 touchdowns this season, which is four fewer than South Florida and two less than Florida State. Yet, of those 14 Gator TD's, two were pick-6 interceptions by Ahmad Black and Major Wright, and two came on Brandon James punt returns. That means that the vaunted UF offense has scored ten times in three games against opponents with a combined record of 4-5. Will that beat Georgia?

While we (Christian) Ponder that question, here's another: how much further can the Florida State offense plunge?

A 12-3 loss to make it three in a row for the Demon Deacons over the Seminoles is embarrassing enough; but after so many signs of hope in their first two games, and coming off back-to-back 7-6 seasons, this particular loss is crushing.

Seven turnovers, with five interceptions. 118 passing yards. 102 rushing yards, with 46 of that coming from the backup quarterback. Not only did the offense fail to reach its own mediocre standards of last season, it appears they've gotten worse.

Of course, throw this in, too -- Wake Forest is better than you think, and certainly light years ahead of the two I-AA opponents that opened Florida State's schedule. Still, not much solace. You want to know the biggest difference between FSU and Wake right now? The Wake kids, while arguably not as talented as Florida State, always go where they are supposed to go. They rarely miss an assignment. Can we say the same about the Seminoles? And what does that point to?

If college football were an investment -- and the way things are going right now, it's as good as any -- I would seriously consider placing some long-term funds in Miami. That win over Texas A&M (an admittedly down program, but still a roadie in a traditionally hostile environment) was huge for the confidence of the young Hurricanes, and proved Randy Shannon to be prophetic: the loss to Florida did, indeed, help his team more than anyone would know.

Miami didn't just beat the Aggies, they smoked 'em. Speed on both sides of the ball, a poised and confident Robert Marve, a running game that racked up nearly 6 yards per carry. They're young, they're callow, but they're so bloody talented...the challenge is on the coaching staff to keep their heads in it for an entire season. And didn't that October 4 matchup with Florida State just get that much more interesting?

And one more thing we learned this weekend -- the Rays are for real, as predicted. We'll save that one for another time.