Lionbackers.com

This might come as news to the junior members of the team but there was a time when a five-game winning streak wasn't an excuse to break out the Dom Perignon for the B.C. Lions.

Not too long ago, in fact, that kind of success was expected from this franchise. Between 2004 and 2007 the Leos averaged 13 wins a season, hosted the Western final four straight times and were generally regarded as the standard by which other CFL teams measured themselves.

Like we said, that wasn't too long ago. Given the last two seasons and first seven games of this one, it just feels like it.

Now, lest we forget, there are 11 members of the current Lions who played on the '06 Grey Cup champions, who know what is it to win in this market, who aren't getting tattoos to commemorate the team's recent run. Those players have also made it their mission to ensure this team doesn't give in to self-satisfaction and, if their message is lost or misconstrued, there's a certain white-haired gentleman who's only too happy to reinforce it.

"Some of these young guys don't know how to handle success," said veteran corner Dante Marsh. "I'm just speaking generally but some of them make a few plays and they've got to get a new contract. We have to talk about what we've built here."

Which isn't a problem for Wally Buono.

"I keep saying, the enemy of success is, what?" the Lions' coach asked.

"Complacency?" a scribe answered tentatively.