IBM Big Blue (X-League)

IBM Big Blue
Established 1976
Based in Tsukuba, Ibaraki
Head coach Kevin Craft
General manager Shinzo Yamada
League X-League
Division Central
Colours Blue, black, grey, and white [1]
Division titles 2, (2001 and 2015)
Website http://www.bigblue-football.com/

The IBM Big Blue are an American football team located in the Tsukuba, Ibaraki. They are a member of the X-League.

Team history

  • 1976 Team founded as the IBM Thinkers.
  • 1977 Joined the X-League.
  • 1989 Team name changed to IBM Big Blue.
  • 1996 Won X2 Central Divisional title. Defeated Penta-Ocean Construction Co. 28-27 in X2-X1 replacement game.
  • 1997 Promoted from X2 to X1.
  • 2010 Advanced to Final stage. Lost to Panasonic Impulse 28-31.
  • 2014 Defeated the Lixil Deers in the Final stage to advance to the Japan X Bowl. Lost to the Fujitsu Frontiers 10-44.
  • 2016 Celebrated 40th anniversary of team founding.

Seasons

X-League Champions (1987–present) Division Champions Final Stage/Semifinals Berth Wild Card /2nd Stage Berth
Season League Division Regular Season Post Season Results Awards Head coaches
Finish Wins Losses Ties
1997 X2 Central 3rd 3 2 0
1998 X2 Central 3rd 3 2 0
1999 X2 Central 3rd 3 2 0
2000 X2 Central 2nd 4 0 1
2001 X2 Central 1st 5 0 0
2002 X1 East 5th 1 3 1 Matoba
2003 X1 East 6th 0 5 0 David Stant
2004 X1 East 4th 1 3 1 David Stant
2005 X1 Central 3rd 4 1 0 David Stant
2006 X1 East 3rd 4 2 0 David Stant
2007 X1 Central 3rd 5 2 0
2008 X1 Central 3rd 5 2 0
2009 X1 East 3rd 4 3 0 Lost 2nd match (Panasonic Denko) 7-49
Lost 2nd stage match (Obic) 14-44		 Shinzo Yamada
2010 X1 East 2nd 6 2 0 Won 2nd match (Suita) 42-10
Lost 2nd stage match (Obic) 27-55
Lost Final stage match (Panasonic) 28-31		 Shinzo Yamada
2011 X1 Central 4th 3 4 0 Won 2nd stage relegation match (Fuji Xerox) 70-14
Won 2nd stage relegation match (Meiji Yasuda) 38-8		 Shinzo Yamada
2012 X1 Central 3rd 4 3 0 Lost 2nd stage match (Panasonic Impulse) 17-34
Won 2nd stage match (Nojima Sagamihara) 48-17[2]		 Kevin Craft (ROY) Shinzo Yamada
2013 X1 Central 3rd 4 3 0 Lost 2nd stage match (Panasonic) 24-55
Won 2nd stage match (Kashima) 56-35[3]		 Shinzo Yamada
2014 X1 Central 2nd 6 2 0 Won 2nd stage match (at Asahi Soft Drinks) 37-10[4]
Won 2nd stage match (at Lixil) 38-10[5]
Won Final stage match (Lixil) 69-54[6]
Lost Japan X Bowl XXVIII (at Fujitsu) 10-44		 Shinzo Yamada
2015 X1 East 1st 4 3 0 Lost 2nd stage match (at Obic) 26-34[7]
Won 2nd stage match (at Asahi Soft Drinks) 37-20		 Shinzo Yamada
2016 X1 East 2nd 6 3 0 Won Quarterfinals match (at LIXIL) 37-16
Lost Semi-finals match (at Fujitsu) 26-28		 Shinzo Yamada
2017 X1 Central 2nd 7 3 0 Won Quarterfinals match (at LIXIL) 51-31
Won Semifinals match (at Panasonic) 31-24[8]
Lost Japan X Bowl XXXI (at Fujitsu) 23-63		 Shinzo Yamada
Total 82 47 2 (1997–2017, includes only regular season)
12 10 0 (1997–2017, includes only playoffs)
94 60 2 (1997–2017, includes both regular season and playoffs)

Current import players

Jersey # Name Position Years with the team Alma Mater Achievements
#3Kevin CraftQB2012-presentUniversity of California, Los AngelesROY award (2012), 2x All X-League Team member (2012-13)
#34James BrooksDE2014-presentUniversity of North Alabama4x All X-League Team member (2014-17)
#40John Stanton[9]TE2012-presentSaint John's University4x All X-League Team member (2013-14, 2016-17)
#92Charles TuaauDT2017-presentTexas A&M University-Commerce

Former Import Players

Name Position Years with the team Alma Mater Achievements
Rykeem YatesDT2016University of Nevada, RenoAll X-League Team member (2016)
Demetrius EatonDE2015Northwestern University
Tuika TufagaDT2014University of Hawaii at Manoa
Jabari MillerCB2012-2013San Jose State University
Albert GriffinS2010-2013Lindenwood University
Rocky Pouta-AloFS/RB2007-2008Indiana State University
Jon GieselOG2005University of California, BerkeleyAll X-League Team member (2005)

References

  1. ↑ "X-League profile, IBM Big Blue". April 17, 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  2. ↑ Marantz, Ken (November 11, 2012). "IBM runs wild over Nojima". xleague.com. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  3. ↑ Marantz, Ken (November 11, 2013). "Craft's aerial barrage lifts IBM to 1st-ever win over shell-shocked Kajima". xleague.com. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  4. ↑ "IBM overcomes sloppy start to knock off Challengers". xleague.com. November 11, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  5. ↑ Ikezaka, Hiroshi (November 16, 2014). "IBM Big Blue pound Lixil Deer, qualify for X League playoffs". japantimes.co.jp. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
  6. ↑ Marantz, Ken (December 3, 2014). "Craft throws for 9 TDs as IBM wins in shootout, advances to 1st Japan X Bowl". xleague.com. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  7. ↑ Ikezaka, Hiroshi (October 31, 2015). "Obic outplays IBM in second-stage opener". japantimes.co.jp. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  8. ↑ "IBM takes down unbeated Panasonic in seesaw semifinal thriller". xleague.com. November 28, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  9. ↑ Nagatsuka, Kaz (October 8, 2013). "Stanton finds niche in Japan as tight end, teacher". japantimes.co.jp. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
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