Obic Seagulls

Obic Seagulls
Established1983
Based inNarashino, Japan
Head coachMakoto Ohashi
LeagueX-League
DivisionX1 Super
Colours     Navy, gold, aqua green, and white[1]
Mascot(s)Seagull-kun
Japan X Bowl titles9 (1996, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2010-13, 2020)
Division titles10 (1988, 1996, 2000-2002, 2005, 2010-2013)
Websitehttp://www.seagulls.jp

The Obic Seagulls are an American football team located in the Narashino, Chiba, Japan. They are a member of the X-League. The Obic Seagulls have won over 17 championships during their team history (8 Rice Bowl championships and 9 Japan X Bowl championships) the most of any American football team in Japan.

Team history

  • 1983 Team founded as the "Recruit Seagulls"
  • 1989 Promoted from X2 to X1
  • 1995 Won first Division Title
  • 1996 Won first league and national title.
  • 1998 Won second league and national title.
  • 1999 Following an economic downturn, the team transitioned from a corporate team under Recruit Co., Ltd., to a club team.
  • 2002 Recruit withdraws team sponsorship. Team became a self-supporting club team under the name "Seagulls".
  • 2003 Obic Co., Ltd., becomes new team sponsor. Team name changed to Obic Seagulls.
  • 2005 Won third League and national title.
  • 2012 Went on record as being the 1st club team in Japan (Among currently registered X-League teams) to play in an international exhibition game (Germany/Dresden Monarchs).
  • 2013 Played in an international exhibition game in Dusseldorf, Germany vs. the Dusseldorf Panthers. Became the first Japanese team to win 4 consecutive national championships dating back to 2010.
  • 2014 Played in a sister cities international exhibition game in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S.A. vs. the APDFL(Amateur to Professional Developmental Football League) Blazers.[2]

Seasons

X-League Champions (1987–present) Division Champions Final Stage/Semifinals Berth Wild Card /2nd Stage Berth
Season Division Regular Season Post Season Results Awards Head coaches
Finish Wins Losses Ties
1988 East 1st 5 0 0 Eiichi Nakata
1989 East 2nd 3 1 0 Mitsuru Taisha
1990 East 5th 1 3 1 Mitsuru Taisha
1991 East 5th 1 3 1 Mitsuru Taisha
1992 East 2nd 3 1 1 Mitsuru Taisha
1993 East 3rd 3 2 0 David Stant
1994 East 2nd 4 1 0 David Stant
1995 East 1st 5 0 0 Won semi-finals match (Asahi Beer) 33-27
Lost Tokyo Super Bowl XIX (Matsushita Denko) 20-54 		David Stant
1996 Central 1st 4 2 0 Won Wild Card match (Sanwa Bank) 27-0
Won semi-finals match (Matsushita Denko) 22-13
Won Tokyo Super Bowl XX (Onward) 30-10
Won 50th Rice Bowl National Championship game (Kyoto) 19-16 		David Stant
1997 Central 3rd 5 2 0 David Stant
1998 Central 2nd 4 2 0 Won Wild Card match (Nissan Prince Tokyo) 56-21
Won semi-finals match (Asahi Soft Drinks) 21-16
Won Tokyo Super Bowl XXII (Asahi Beer) 45-24
Won 52nd Rice Bowl National Championship game (Ritsumeikan) 30-16 		David Stant
1999 Central 2nd 4 2 0 Won Wild Card match (Mycal) 37-7
Lost semi-finals match (Kashima) 13-20 		David Stant
2000 Central 1st 6 0 0 Lost semi-finals match(Asahi Soft Drinks) 15-23 Makoto Ohashi
2001 Central 1st 5 0 0 Won Wild Card match (Fujits) 24-14
Lost semi-finals match(at Matsushita Denko) 7-10 OT 		Makoto Ohashi
2002 Central 1st 5 1 0 Won semi-finals match (Asahi Soft Drinks) 30-0
Won Tokyo Super Bowl XVI (Fujitsu) 14-7
Lost 56th Rice Bowl National Championship game (at Ritsumeikan) 13-36 		Makoto Ohashi
2003 Central 2nd 4 2 0 Lost Wild Card match (Asahi Soft Drinks) 9-16 Makoto Ohashi
2004 East 2nd 4 2 0 Won Wild Card match (Kashima) 10-3
Lost semifinals match (Matsushita Denko) 7-10 		Makoto Ohashi
2005 East 1st 6 0 0 Won Semifinals match (Asahi Beer) 13-7
Won Japan X Bowl XIX (Matsushita Denko) 25-16
Won 59th Rice Bowl National Championship game (Hosei) 47-17 		Kevin Jackson (MVP) Makoto Ohashi
2006 East 1st 4 1 0 Won Wild Card match (Naigai Denki) 74-13
Lost semifinals match (Onward) 13-17 		Makoto Ohashi
2007 East 2nd 6 1 0 Won Wild Card match (Kashima) 19-13
Lost semifinals match (Matsushita Denko) 26-29 		Makoto Ohashi
2008 Central 2nd 6 2 0 Lost Wild Card match (Panasonic) 14-20 Makoto Ohashi
2009 East 2nd 7 2 0 Won 2nd stage match (IBM) 21-7
Lost 2nd Stage match (Panasonic) 20-23 		Makoto Ohashi
2010 Central 1st 8 1 0 Won 2nd stage match (Suita) 56-2
Won 2nd stage match (IBM) 55-27
Won Final stage match (Kajima) 28-21
Won Japan X Bowl XXIV (Panasonic) 20-16
Won 64th Rice Bowl National Championship game (at Ritsumeikan) 24-0 		Makoto Ohashi
2011 Central 1st 7 0 0 Won 2nd stage match (All Mitsubishi) 49-0
Won 2nd stage match (Asahi Soft Drinks) 20-13
Won Final stage match (Kajima 45-20
Won Japan X Bowl XXV (Fujitsu) 24-17
Won 65th Rice Bowl National Championship game (Kwansei Gakuin) 38-0 		Makoto Ohashi
2012 Central 1st 9 0 0 Won 2nd stage match (Asahi Beer) 69-7[3]
Won 2nd stage match (Asahi Soft Drinks) 29-12[4]
Won Final stage match (Nojima) 24-10[5]
Won Japan X Bowl XXVI (Kajima) 27-24[6]
Won 66th Rice Bowl National Championship game (at Kwansei Gakuin) 21-15[7] 		Noriaki Kinoshita (MVP) Makoto Ohashi
2013 Central 1st 6 1 0 Won 2nd stage match (Asahi Beer) 21-7[8]
Won 2nd stage match (Asahi Soft Drinks) 34-10[9]
Won Final stage match (Kajima 21-12[10]
Won Japan X Bowl XXVII (Fujitsu) 24-16[11]
Won 67th Rice Bowl National Championship game (Kwansei Gakuin) 34-16[12] 		Noriaki Kinoshita (MVP)
Kealakai Maiava (ROY) 		Makoto Ohashi
2014 Central 2nd 7 2 0 Won 2nd stage match (Nojima) 44-21[13]
Won 2nd stage match (at Elecom) 45-0[14]
Lost final stage match (at Fujitsu) 17-27[15] 		Makoto Ohashi
2015 East 3rd 5 2 0 Won 2nd stage match (IBM) 34-26[16]
Won 2nd stage match (Asahi Soft Drinks) 52-9
Lost final stage match (at Fujitsu) 6-27 		Makoto Ohashi
2016 Central 1st 8 1 0 Won Quarterfinals match (Elecom Kobe) 35-0[17]
Won Semifinals match (Panasonic) 9-6 OT[18]
Loss Japan X Bowl XXX (at Fujitsu) 3-16 		Naoki Kosho
2017 Central 3rd 7 3 0 Won Quarterfinals match (at Nojima Sagamihara) 41-22[19]
Lost semifinals match (at Fujitsu) 0-7 		Taku Li (ROY) Naoki Kosho
2018 Central 2nd 8 2 0 Won Quarterfinals match (at Nojima Sagamihara) 42-25[20]
Lost semifinals match (at Fujitsu) 10-13 		Naoki Kosho
2019 X1 Super 2nd 10 1 0 Lost semifinals match (at Panasonic) 14-24 Naoki Kosho
2020 X1 Super 2 0 0 Won Japan X Bowl XXXIV (Fujitsu) 13-7
Won 74th Rice Bowl National Championship (Kwansei Gakuin U.) 35-18 		Makoto Ohashi
2021 X1 Super 3rd 5 2 0 Lost semifinals Match (at Fujitsu) 10-17 Makoto Ohashi
2022 X1 Super Div. B 2nd 3 1 1 Won Quarterfinals Match (Nojima Sagamihara) 21-9
Lost semifinals Match (at Panasonic) 10-30 		Makoto Ohashi
2023 X1 Super Div. B 2nd 7 1 0 Won Quarterfinals Match (Elecom Kobe) 17-7
Lost semifinals Match (at Fujitsu) 17-24 		Hiroshi Ono
Total 182 45 4 (1988–2023, includes only regular season)
52 19 0 (1988–2023, includes only playoffs)
234 64 4 (1988–2023, includes both regular season and playoffs)

Head coaches

Coach Years Record
Eiichi Nakata 1988 5-0 (1.000)
Mitsuru Taisha 1989-1992 8-8-3 (.500)
David Stant 1993-1999 39-13 (.750)
Makoto Ohashi 2000-2015 129-28 (.822)
Naoki Kosho 2016-present 37-11 (.771)
Makoto Ohashi 2020-2022
Hiroshi Ono 2023-present

Current Import Players

Jersey # Name Position Years with the team Alma Mater Achievements
#8 Jason Smith CB 2022-present Auburn
#17 Tyler Kulka QB 2023-present Lawrence Tech
#85 Holden Huff TE 2018-present Boise State

Former Import players

Name Position Years with the team Alma Mater Achievements
Cardell Rawlings DL 2022-2023 Wingate All X-League Super team member (2020)
Sean Draper CB 2022 University of Iowa 2x All X-League Team member (2019 & 2020)
Byron Beatty Jr. DE/LB 2012-21 Colorado 4x All X-League Team member (2013, 2016, 2019 & 2021)
Jimmy Laughrea QB 2020-21 UC Davis
Jason Fanaika DL/LB 2019 Utah
Skyler Howard QB 2018-19 West Virginia
Kevin Jackson DE 2005-2018 Hawai'i 10x All X-League Team member (2005-2014) 2x JXB MVP (2005 and 2013) X League MVP (2005)
Ikaika Woolsey[21] QB 2017 Hawai'i
Kealakai Maivai OT 2013-2017 UCLA X-League Rookie of the Year (2013), 3x All X-League Team member (2013, 2016-17)
Jerry Neuheisel[22] QB 2016 UCLA
Frank Fernandez C 2012-2015 Harvard 2x All X-League Team member (2008 and 2011)
Karl Noa DE 2009-2011 Hawai'i All X-League Team member (2011)
Jabali Miller CB 2005-2006 San Jose State

References

  1. ^ "X-League profile, Obic Seagulls". X-League. April 17, 2015. Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  2. ^ Casagrande, Michael (August 15, 2014). "Japanese football team 'awestruck by trip to Alabama practice, Nick Saban intrigued by guests". al.com. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  3. ^ Marantz, Ken (November 5, 2012). "Seagulls storm to record-setting victory". xleague.com. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  4. ^ "Seagulls shrug off Challengers to stay unbeaten". xleague.com. November 20, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  5. ^ Marantz, Ken (December 3, 2012). "Seagulls set down Rise, earn shot at 3-peat". xleague.com. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  6. ^ Marantz, Ken (December 18, 2012). "Obic holds on for 1st 3-peat in league history". xleague.com. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  7. ^ Marantz, Ken (January 5, 2013). "Seagulls pull of thrilling comeback for 3rd straight Rice Bowl victory". xleague.com. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  8. ^ "Sugawara leads Seagulls over stubborn Silver Star". xleague.com. November 6, 2013. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  9. ^ "Seagulls strike fast, hard in rout of Challengers". xleague.com. November 19, 2013. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  10. ^ Marantz, Ken (December 1, 2013). "Champion Seagulls soar back into Japan X Bowl". xleague.com. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  11. ^ Marantz, Ken (December 12, 2013). "Seagulls hold on to deny Frontiers, win 4th straight Japan X Bowl". xleague.com. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  12. ^ Marantz, Ken (January 4, 2014). "Obic runs wild to foil KGU again, win record 4th straight Rice Bowl". xleague.com. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  13. ^ Marantz, Ken (November 10, 2014). "Slingin' Sugawara, Seagulls bounce back to rout Rise". xleague.com. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  14. ^ "Seagulls pour it on to deny Finies, sail into semifinals". xleague.com. November 23, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  15. ^ Ikezaka, Hiroshi (November 30, 2014). "Four time defending champion Obic Seagulls eliminated from X-League title chase". japantimes.co.jp. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
  16. ^ Ikezaka, Hiroshi (October 31, 2015). "Obic outplays IBM in second-stage opener". japantimes.co.jp. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  17. ^ Marantz, Ken (November 13, 2016). "Unbeatens Fujitsu, Obic progress into semifinals in similar style". xleague.com. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  18. ^ Marantz, Ken (November 29, 2016). "Obic emerges from deluge with OT win ticket to Japan X Bowl". xleague.com. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  19. ^ Marantz, Ken (November 12, 2017). "Seagulls ride massive wave of rise turnovers into semifinals". xleague.com. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
  20. ^ Marantz, Ken (November 12, 2018). "Howard helps seagulls soar toward peak, turn back Rise to reach semifinals". xleague.com. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  21. ^ Nagatsuka, Kaz (April 24, 2017). "New Seagulls QB Woolsey makes fine connections in debut". xleague.com. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  22. ^ Nagatsuka, Kaz (May 17, 2016). "Former UCLA Quarterback Neuheisel embracing Japanese challenge". japantimes.co.jp. Retrieved May 31, 2016.