IBM Big Blue (X-League)

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

IBM Big Blue
Established1976
Based inTsukuba, Ibaraki
Head coachKevin Craft
General managerShinzo Yamada
LeagueX-League
DivisionX1 Super
ColoursBlue, black, grey, and white [1]
Division titles2, (2001 and 2015)
Websitehttp://www.bigblue-football.com/

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 4 1 Matoba
2003 X1 East 6th 0 5 0 David Stant
2004 X1 East 4th 2 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
2018 X1 East 2nd 8 2 0 Won Quarterfinals match (at Elecom Kobe) 34-23
Won Semifinals match (at Panasonic) 24-17[9]
Lost Japan X Bowl XXXII (at Fujitsu) 18-35		 Kevin Craft
2019 X1 Super 5th 6 5 0 Kevin Craft
2020 X1 Super 7th 0 3 0 Kevin Craft
Total 91 53 2 (1997–2019, includes only regular season)
14 11 0 (1997–2019, includes only playoffs)
105 64 2 (1997–2019, includes both regular season and playoffs)

Current import players
Jersey # Name Position Years with the team Alma Mater Achievements
#3Kevin CraftQB2012-presentUCLAROY award (2012), 2x All X-League Team member (2012-13)
#34James BrooksDE2014-presentNorth Alabama4x All X-League Team member (2014-17)
#40John Stanton[10]TE2012-presentSt. John's (MN)4x All X-League Team member (2013-14, 2016-17)
#92Charles TuaauDT2017-presentTexas A&M–Commerce

Former Import Players

Name Position Years with the team Alma Mater Achievements
Rykeem YatesDT2016NevadaAll X-League Team member (2016)
Demetrius EatonDE2015Northwestern
Tuika TufagaDT2014Hawai'i
Jabari MillerCB2012-2013San Jose State
Albert GriffinS2010-2013Lindenwood
Rocky Pouta-AloFS/RB2007-2008Indiana State
Jon GieselOG2005CaliforniaAll 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. Marantz, Ken (November 25, 2018). "Flash News: Defending champion Fujitsu, IBM set up rematch in Japan X Bowl". xleague.com. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  10. Nagatsuka, Kaz (October 8, 2013). "Stanton finds niche in Japan as tight end, teacher". japantimes.co.jp. Retrieved February 28, 2016.

See also

IBM Big Blue (rugby union)

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