The Southern Observer » make Meyer the ninth coach in college

EASTBOURNE, England -- Feliciano Lopez of Spain completed a successful title defence when he beat top seed Richard Gasquet of France 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-5 in the Aegon International final on Saturday. Its the first time the third-seeded Lopez has retained an ATP title, and the first time he has beaten Gasquet in their six meetings. Madison Keys earned her first career WTA title by beating Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 in the womens final. Playing in her first final, unseeded 19-year-old Keys became the first American to triumph since Chanda Rubin won back-to-back titles in 2002 and 2003, and she is the youngest American to win a singles title since Vania King in Bangkok in October 2006. Lopez held championship point against Grigor Dimitrov last week at Queens Club, and he is the first player to reach back-to-back grass-court finals before Wimbledon since 2001, when Lleyton Hewitt won at Queens and s-Hertogenbosch, and Thomas Johansson won Halle and Nottingham. There was little to separate him and Gasquet, with two breaks giving the Spanish left-hander the opening set, and Gasquet, the 2005 and 2006 champion, sneaking the tiebreaker in the second. In the third set, games went with serve until Lopez broke to lead 6-5 and then served out for the fourth title of his career. Kerber lost in the Eastbourne final for the second time - to Tamira Paszek in 2012 - and in a final for the third time this year after defeats in Sydney and Doha. She was seeking her first title came winning Linz in October 2013. "Im so incredibly happy," said Keys, who on Monday should be ranked in the top 30 for the first time. "You know, its one of those things where when youre training and you dont want to be there, youre tired or everything hurts, its one of those things where you think of this moment, and, you know, it really helps push you through all the hard times. "My serve was definitely a weapon today, and it really helped me through the entire time." Keys win came after she fired 17 aces and struck a serve clocked at 126 mph (203 kph), the fastest this year on the WTA tour, and if confirmed, would establish her as one of the top five fastest servers since records began in 1989. Most of the rallies were short and just one break of serve decided the first two sets, with Keys breaking to lead 3-1 in the first and Kerber 2-0 in the second. Games went with serve in the third until the dramatic 12th game. Kerber held two game points to take the set to a tiebreaker before Keys claimed victory on her fourth match point. "Its always not easy when somebody is serving like she did the whole match," Kerber said. "She played at a really high level." With Coco Vendeweghe winning at s-Hertogenbosch, two American women have won titles in the same week for the first time since February 2002. Two Spanish men also won titles on Saturday, with Roberto Bautista Agut winning his first title at s-Hertogenbosch. Arizona Diamondbacks Jerseys . 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Zack Greinke Jersey . - A lot of scenarios ran through Terrell Suggs head when the Baltimore linebacker prepared to face the Pittsburgh Steelers.DALLAS - Ohio State and Oregon will meet in a game that has never been played for a trophy that has never been raised.The winner Monday night in North Texas can be called the truest champion in the history of major college football.The first College Football Playoff national championship game matches the second-seeded Ducks and fourth-seeded Buckeyes at AT&T Stadium.Its college football history, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said Sunday during a news conference with Oregon coach Mark Helfrich, with that new championship trophy sitting in between them.The days of bowls, polls and the BCS having the final say about who is No. 1 are over. The playoff that fans wanted for so long — and finally got — will determine a single champion.Oregon (13-1) and its Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Marcus Mariota are in search of the programs first national title, the last remaining goal for a school that has barged onto the national stage over the last two decades with ostentatious flare and flashy uniforms.Ohio State (13-1) is shooting for national championship No. 5, but the first under coach Urban Meyer, who returned to his home state three years ago to take over a college football goliath that was looking to start its next golden age.Tradition rich vs. cutting edge.The Ducks from the Pac-12 raced into the championship game with an emphatic 59-20 victory against Florida State last week at the Rose Bowl.The Buckeyes from the Big Ten upset Alabama 42-35 at the Sugar Bowl to cap an improbable rebound from an early season loss and injuries to two star quarterbacks.This is much more of a business trip, this time around, Ohio State All-America defensive end Joey Bosa said. Last week we went, we hung out and had some fun. This week its all about business; no going out, no messing around. Were just preparing.Ohio State has won 12 straight since stumbling at home to Virginia Tech in September.The Ducks have won nine in a row since, all by double-digit margins, since losing to Arizona in October.Weve been playing, both our program and Ohio State have played with that kind of early loss, and your back was against the wall to get to this point every play of every game, the entire rest of the season, it was to the those words: do oor die, Helfrich said.ddddddddddddHere are some things to know about the ultimate winner-take-all-game:SUPER MARIOTAMariota can become the seventh Heisman Trophy winner since 1996 to win the national championship in the same season he won the Heisman. Florida States Jameis Winston did it last season.Another victory in what is very likely his last college game would top off a career that can go down as one of the best in college football history.Mariota has thrown for 10,463 yards, 103 touchdowns passes and just 13 interceptions while winning 35 games in three seasons as Oregons starter.Our No. 1 concern is their quarterback, Meyer said.The Buckeyes hope to contain the fast-moving Mariota with a defensive line, led by Bosa, that is among the best in the nation.Theyve got an awesome front seven, Mariota said. Big, physical guys that really control the line of scrimmage.MEYERS MILESTONEMeyer can become the second coach in college football history to win national championships with two schools, joining Nick Saban, who won the BCS title in 2003 with LSU and then three more titles with Alabama.Meyer won national titles with Florida in 2006 and 2008. A third championship would make Meyer the ninth coach in college footballs poll era (dating to 1936) to win at least three championships. Bear Bryant leads with the six he won at Alabama.MISSINGThe Ducks will be down their most productive receiver over the last two games.Darren Carrington is ineligible after failing an NCAA administered drug test. He is second on the team in yards receiving with 704 and averages 19 yards per catch. Hes been especially good lately.In the Pac-12 championship game against Arizona and the Rose Bowl against Florida State, Carrington had 14 catches for 292 yards and three touchdowns.Oregon also lost Devon Allen, second on the team in catches (41) and touchdown receptions (seven), at the Rose Bowl to a knee injury.We dont have things in our system that its, hey, we need to throw this guy the ball in this play period, Helfrich said. That doesnt exist.OH-FER OHIO STATEThis will be the ninth meeting between Oregon and Ohio State. The Buckeyes have won the previous eight.___Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP ' ' '