Those with half-decent memories will recall the dark days of the Glasgow Warriors, the endless seasons of irrelevance in Europe, the heavy beatings, the sense of fatalism, the feeling that contending for the biggest prize in European rugby was for others—the sharks and not the minnows.
Now, thanks to the brilliance of Franco Smith's coaching, they are among the great whites themselves.
Toulon, their visitors in Saturday's Champions Cup quarter-final at Scotstoun, have won this tournament three times, but Glasgow are the favorites—red hot and irresistible.
Between Europe and the bread and butter of the United Rugby Championship, Glasgow have played 19 games this season and have won 16 of them, 14 with four-try bonus points. Attacking rugby is in their DNA. There isn't a jugular they won't go for.
But, while their ambition and their elan is the thing that defines them, it's not the only thing. If it's true that a team reveals its heart and soul in the strength of their defense, then Glasgow are in the rudest health.
Yes, they've played five and won five and have landed five bonus points in their Champions Cup campaign, but they've also conceded the fewest number of tries.
These guys are not rugby's Harlem Globetrotters even though they have showbiz throughout the ranks. They are a beautifully balanced team of bludgeon and rapier. They are thrilling and tremendously physical in equal measure.
They have won seven times in a row in Europe at Scotstoun, a proper fortress.
Toulon are in the midst of a lousy season where their away form has been a massive issue. In all competitions, they've played 12 matches on the road and have won only two.
For Toulon, who are in 11th place in France's Top 14, this is their one shot at glory. That desperation is something Smith spoke about on Friday after he named his team. Toulon's rage to save their season is not lost on him.
Definitely lost for Warriors is George Horne, the heartbeat at scrum-half, who has not recovered from an injury he sustained when beating the Bulls last weekend. Ben Afshar is in and 22-year-old Jack Oliver is on the bench. Oliver has seen about an hour's action this season.
Horne's absence could be a problem, but Smith talks like it's an opportunity. If you're expecting the South African to exhibit even a scintilla of concern about his injured nine then forget about it. He didn't blink when asked. Not once.
"As much as we tried to get him [Horne] ready for this week we've made the clever decision to trust the boys that we've got," he said, before revealing that Horne could be fit again in the coming weeks.