IBM Big Blue (X-League)

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IBM Big Blue
Established1976
Based inTsukuba, Ibaraki
Head coachKevin Craft
General managerShinzo Yamada
LeagueX-League
DivisionX1 Super
Colours    
Blue, black, grey, and white[1]
Division titles2, (2001 and 2015)
Websitehttp://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 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
2021 X1 Super 4th 3 3 1 Lost Semifinals match (Panasonic) 31-38 Kevin Craft
Total 100 64 3 (1997–2021, includes only regular season)
14 12 0 (1997–2021, includes only playoffs)
114 76 3 (1997–2021, includes both regular season and playoffs)

Current import players[]

Jersey # Name Position Years with the team Alma Mater Achievements
#34 James Brooks DE 2014–present North Alabama 4x All X-League Team member (2014–17)
#40 John Stanton[10] TE 2012–present St. John's (MN) 5x All X-League Team member (2013–14, 2016–17 & 2021)
#35 Herbert Gamboa[11] LB 2020–present Montana All X1 Super Team member (2020)
#8 Jason Smith WR 2021-present Auburn

Former Import Players

Name Position Years with the team Alma Mater Achievements
Kevin Craft QB 2012–20 UCLA ROY award (2012), 2x All X-League Team member (2012–13)
Charles Tuaau DT 2017-19 Texas A&M–Commerce
Rykeem Yates DT 2016 Nevada All X-League Team member (2016)
Demetrius Eaton DE 2015 Northwestern
Tuika Tufaga DT 2014 Hawai'i
Jabari Miller CB 2012-2013 San Jose State
Albert Griffin S 2010-2013 Lindenwood
Rocky Pouta-Alo FS/RB 2007-2008 Indiana State
Ian Sample WR 2008 Hawai'i
Jon Giesel OG 2005 California All X-League Team member (2005)

See also[]

IBM Big Blue (rugby union)

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.
  11. ^ Malchow, Alex (December 20, 2020). "Herbert Gamboa's football odyssey: From the U of Montana Grizzlies to Japan's IBM Big Blue". americanfootballinternational.com. Retrieved January 5, 2022.

External links[]

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