With the massively important primary coming up in his home state of Ohio, Gov. John Kasich is looking for a home field advantage to close the gap on the GOP's frontrunners. So who better to endorse the governor than the state's highest-paid employee?
In a video released Thursday by Kasich's campaign, Urban Meyer formally endorsed the governor while the two talked about "raising the bar" in their respective professions. Earlier this week, Trump made headlines for mentioning Meyer during a visit to Columbus ahead of the March 15 primary in the state.
Coach Urban Meyer (@OSUCoachMeyer) endorses John Kasich for President!
Must-See Vid: "Go win this thing."https://t.co/XlxgWpLtr3— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) March 10, 2016
"I don't know if he endorses me or not, but he's said awful nice things about me," Trump said at the Port Columbus International Airport last week.
Meyer declined to respond to Trump's comments about him or even to discuss his politics, but stated he has "strong beliefs." But with Kasich seemingly neck-and-neck with Trump in his home state, Meyer's endorsement was one he likely valued above most.
Kasich compared Meyer to Woody Hayes, Ohio State's head football coach from 1951 to 1978. Hayes led the Buckeyes to 13 Big Ten Championships and five National Titles and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983.
"I've always admired [Hayes], he was a man that always raised the bar and that's exactly what you're doing and I'm trying to do in politics," Kasich said. "I think the people of Ohio, all they want is us to give their best, that's all they want. They don't want miracles, well maybe once in a while they do, on a Saturday in November they do. But most of the time I think they just to do the best we can do."
Meyer was born in Toldeo, Ohio, and graduated from the University of Cincinnati, but became a household name in college football when he won two BCS National Championships at the University of Florida. After a brief hiatus from coaching, Meyer returned home and took the Ohio State job, leading the Buckeyes to a national title win in the College Football Playoff's inaugural season.
Meyer has previously indicated Ohio State was his destination job, telling Kasich he grew up when the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry was at its height in the late '60s and throughout the '70s.
"I grew up in the Ten Year War and there's not a day that goes by that I see Archie Griffin or I see former Buckeyes and I don't want to let people down, and I'm sure you feel the same way," Meyer said. "Shelly and I would like to tell you... we wish you the best and go win this darn thing."
