Obic Seagulls

Obic SeagullsEstablished| 1983

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Based in| Narashino, Japan
Head coach| Makoto Ohashi
League| X-League
Division| X1 Super
Colours|  Navy, gold, aqua green, and white[1]
Mascot(s)| Seagull-kun
Japan X Bowl titles| 9 (1996, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2010-13, 2021)
Division titles| 10 (1988, 1996, 2000-2002, 2005, 2010-2013)
Website| http://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

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

X-League Champions (1987–present) | Division Champions | Final Stage/Semifinals Berth | Wild Card /2nd Stage Berth

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Season  | Division  | Regular Season  | Post Season Results  | Awards  | Head coaches

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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

[edit]

Coach  | Years  | Record

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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)

## Current Import Players

[edit]

Jersey #  | Name  | Position  | Years with the team  | Alma Mater  | Achievements

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#8 | Jason Smith | CB | 2022-present | Auburn |
#17 | Tyler Kulka | QB | 2023-present | Lawrence Tech |
#9 | Cardell Rawlings | DL | 2022-present | Wingate | All X-League Super team member (2020)
#85 | Holden Huff | TE | 2018-present | Boise State |

Former Import players

Name  | Position  | Years with the team  | Alma Mater  | Achievements

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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

[edit]

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.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website (Japanese)

* v
* t
* e

X-League

X1|

| Super|

* Panasonic Impulse
* Fujitsu Frontiers
* Obic Seagulls
* IBM Big Blue
* Nojima Sagamihara Rise
* Tokyo Gas Creators
* Elecom Kobe Finies
* All Mitsubishi Lions
* Asahi Beer Silver Star
* Asahi Soft Drink Challengers
* Me-Life Fukuoka Suns
* Deers

|

Area|

* Keishichou Eagles
* PentaOcean Pirates
* As One Black Eagles
* Dentsu Caterpillars
* Nagoya Cyclones
* Fuji Xerox Minerva AFC
* Bullseyes-Tokyo

X2|

* Yokohama Harbors
* Bulls
* Hawkeye
* Warriors
* Blue Thunders
* Nishiomiya Bruins
* Barbarian
* Shitamachi Gorillas
* Golden Fighters
* Zero Fighters
* Hurricanes
* Osaka Gas Skunks
* Wranglers
* Kawasaki Ox
* Sidewinders
* AFC Cranes
* Ibaraki Saviors
* Triaxis J-Stars
* Sony Solidstate

X3|

* Mitsui Seagulls

Championship|

* Japan X Bowl
* Rice Bowl

See also|

* Green Bowl
* Paul Rusch Cup
* Pearl Bowl
* All X-League Team
* List of defunct X-League franchises

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