In 1971, the Argos led by Leo "the Lip" Cahill, were the team that all other CFL teams wanted to beat, a squad that could back up their swagger with results on the field.
A still memorable Grey Cup loss to the Stampeders forever etched into Argonaut lore, yet, that team of the seventies is still remember fondly by those that care to think back to the days when the Argos were the big deal in the summer in Toronto.
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Such is the lore of that era of Argonaut football, that TSN has featured them in their documentary series on the CFL leading up to the 100th edition of the Grey Cup this November in Toronto.
As has been documented over the years, even with some high profile players in the years that followed, the Fluties', the Rocket and many, many others, the game and the team never quite resonated as it did when the Argos played at woeful Exhibition Stadium, where the cold, the rain and at times the fog would add to the atmosphere while the Double Blue brought the fans to their feet time and time again.
It's that connection that the current regime with the Argonauts hope to rekindle, a challenging task no doubt in a very different era, the sports fans of Southern Ontario have many, many options to chase, some of them perhaps a distraction others an obsession.
Somehow the Argos and the CFL need to become part of that variety, where taking the family to the ball game once again becomes an in thing to do.
Celebrating the 71 squad as they did last week will no doubt help, they were giants of their time in the city, some of them still resonate there today.
But in the end, it's what the current crop of Argonauts do on the field that will turn the tide, Toronto made a good start by attracting one of the marquee names of the current CFL in Ricky Ray to the Double Blue.
And while there have been a few stumbles along the way thus far in the year, you can see that Ray and his offence are starting to come together on the same page, Ray's numbers have been impressive thus far, even if the results don't quite show up in the standings.
It may take some time for Ricky Ray to join the pantheon of Theismann and Flutie and those before and after, but the challenge to make the Argonauts a discussion point on Monday morning could be his most important task since he arrived in the league.
The trip down memory lane provided for much in the way of reviews, some of which can be found below..
Toronto Star-- Argonauts' 1971 Grey Cup loss still stings for quarterback Joe Theismann
Toronto Star-- 1971 Argos to be honoured at home opener Saturday
Toronto Sun-- Those 'maverick' 1971 Argos
Toronto Sun-- Argos of '71 a blast from the past
CBC-- Former QB Joe Theismann has fond memories of 1971 Argos
National Post-- 1971 Argonauts full of cherished memories
Calgary Herald-- Theismann the fall guy for 1971 Argos?
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