Most U.S. football players grow up, compete and leave the game without ever lining up opposite a player born in another country.
This summer, the 2015 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) World Championship will give the 45 members of the U.S. Men’s National Team an opportunity to play against teams from six other countries representing five continents.
For linebacker B.J. Beatty, this will not be a new experience. Following a solid career at the University of Colorado that included All-Big 12 honors in 2010, he spent the past three seasons playing with and against some of Japan’s best players. Many tournament observers peg Japan as a team that can challenge the two-time defending U.S. men, and Beatty shares this belief, saying the Japanese team will no doubt be bringing its A game to Canton, Ohio.
“Japan will be bringing a very skilled team to Ohio. That I can be sure of,” he said. “They’re very disciplined players and take special care and detail in learning an executing their assignments. The coaches are very strategic and detail-oriented so I expect them to bring a tough challenge to the tournament.”
Following graduation, Beatty pursued a career in professional football, but it never materialized in the United States. He finally got that chance in 2012 when David Stant, a family friend and college coach in Japan, informed him that the Obic Seagulls of the Japanese X-League were looking for linebackers.
Beatty met with Seagulls head coach Ohashi Makoto, and within a month was practicing with the team.
“Never could I have imagined that football would take me outside the U.S., especially Japan,” Beatty said. “But I am grateful for the opportunity to continue playing.”
Given the opportunity, Beatty immediately made the most of it. He’s been selected the team’s defensive MVP in all three of his seasons in Obic and helped lead the Seagulls to two X-Bowl Championships, the Japanese equivalent to the Super Bowl.
And while happy that he’s gotten to showcase his abilities on the international stage, Beatty is excited to come back to the U.S. to play. He did return to the states for one game last year, an exhibition contest with the Seagulls in Alabama, though he said the anticipation he felt for that trip pales in comparison to what he’s feeling for this one.
“This tournament means much more to me than that game did because I get to represent my country and also I will compete against players I know in Japan,” he said. “I’m also very excited that my family will be coming, including my grandparents, who haven’t been to a game since college.”
The United States opens the tournament July 9 against Mexico with the winner of that game facing Japan on July 12. If the U.S. and Japan do meet in Canton, Beatty will see an assortment of familiar faces including 12 of his Seagull teammates and Makoto, Japan’s defensive coordinator.
Along with a gold medal and national pride, bragging rights within the Seagull locker room will be on the line. Beatty admitted he’d love to hold a U.S. victory over his teammates’ heads when he returns to Obic.
“There’s been a bunch of friendly trash-talking amongst us, so I’m really looking forward to (playing them),” he said.