It's been nearly twenty years since Doug Flutie was a member of the Toronto Argonauts, but the legendary quarterback was once again the centre of attention ahead of the Argos' clash with the Ottawa RedBlacks at BMO Field on Monday.
Flutie was the talisman for the 1996/97 version of the Argos, which was honoured in pre-game ceremonies that saw many of the players reunited for the first time in years.
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Seemingly all of the build-up to Monday's game was centred around Flutie, even though the entire 1996/97 team was ostensibly being celebrated. Flutie only played two seasons in Toronto, but his impact was so immense that the Toronto Argonauts Alumni Association decided to name him as an All-Time Argo — an honour bestowed on just 23 other players from the club's nearly 150-year history.
"It's just really cool to be back in this city," Flutie told TSN prior to kickoff. "I only spent two seasons here, and you don't realize the affection the city had for [us] and our impact on the city."
The Flutie-led Argos were dominant for his two seasons in Toronto, culminating in back-to-back Grey Cups won by a team that has some in the media calling it among the best ever in CFL history. Flutie credited the big personalities on the that team in helping bring together the obvious talent on display in order to succeed.
"I think for me championships reign over everything else," Flutie told TSN. "We were 2-for-2 [in winning Grey Cups] so that was pretty cool. But I think more than anything else what stands out to me, it was fun. We had two really enjoyable years.
"I think it stemmed down from Don Matthews being the head coach, guys like Pinball Clemons [and] Donnie Wilson that were upbeat, fun-loving guys on the field, and you didn't get nervous. We went out and just played like we were in our backyard and it just made it fun."
"it was the most fun I ever had playing football" - @DougFlutie on being named an all-time Argonaut. #CFLGameDay pic.twitter.com/qFu92BgvKv
— CFL (@CFL) July 24, 2017
While Flutie's two years in Toronto were arguably his most memorable of his time in the CFL, the 54-year-old spent eight seasons in the league overall. He joined the BC Lions at 27 and spent two years on the west coast before moving to the Calgary Stampeders for a highly-successful four-season stint. He then joined to the Argos, where he led the team to consecutive 15-win seasons before starring for the NFL's Buffalo Bills.
In all, Flutie won three Grey Cups (along with MVP awards in all three championship games) and was a CFL All-Star six times before heading back to the NFL in 1998. In addition, he claimed the CFL's Most Outstanding Player award six times.
To say that Flutie had an impact on the CFL would be an understatement, but the legendary quarterback sees it another way.
"I think it was more [that] the game had an impact on me and allowed me to be athletic and run around do the things that I did well," Flutie told TSN. "I think the one impact I did have was the starting to spread it out, go empty back field, six quick receivers, get the ball out of my hand — that was kind of my forté."
Doug Flutie: Officially an All-Time Argo. #Argos #CFLGameDay pic.twitter.com/x7meiSKLIU
— Toronto Argonauts (@TorontoArgos) July 24, 2017
Whatever the case, Flutie remains thankful to the league for playing its part in a unique and notable career in professional football.
"Thank you guys so much for rekindling a career that launched me back into the NFL," Flutie told the crowd during the pre-game ceremony naming him an All-Time Argo. "It was a memorable time and the most fun I've ever had playing football."
Perhaps inspired by Flutie's presence, the Argos won a dramatic game 27-24. The RedBlacks tied things with just over two minutes remaining, only for the Argos to march down the field leading up to Lirim Hajrullahu's game-winning field goal as time expired.