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, 2021)
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 Nakata19885-0 (1.000)
Mitsuru Taisha1989-19928-8-3 (.500)
David Stant1993-199939-13 (.750)
Makoto Ohashi2000-2015129-28 (.822)
Naoki Kosho2016-present37-11 (.771)

Current Import Players

Jersey # Name Position Years with the team Alma Mater Achievements
#8Jason SmithCB2022-presentAuburn
#17Tyler KulkaQB2023-presentLawrence Tech
#9Cardell RawlingsDL2022-presentWingateAll X-League Super team member (2020)
#85Holden HuffTE2018-presentBoise State

Former Import players

Name Position Years with the team Alma Mater Achievements
Sean DraperCB2022University of Iowa2x All X-League Team member (2019 & 2020)
Byron Beatty Jr.DE/LB2012-21Colorado4x All X-League Team member (2013, 2016, 2019 & 2021)
Jimmy LaughreaQB2020-21UC Davis
Jason FanaikaDL/LB2019Utah
Skyler HowardQB2018-19West Virginia
Kevin JacksonDE2005-2018Hawai'i10x All X-League Team member (2005-2014) 2x JXB MVP (2005 and 2013) X League MVP (2005)
Ikaika Woolsey[21]QB2017Hawai'i
Kealakai MaivaiOT2013-2017UCLAX-League Rookie of the Year (2013), 3x All X-League Team member (2013, 2016-17)
Jerry Neuheisel[22]QB2016UCLA
Frank FernandezC2012-2015Harvard2x All X-League Team member (2008 and 2011)
Karl NoaDE2009-2011Hawai'iAll X-League Team member (2011)
Jabari MillerCB2005-2006San 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.
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