It's not a bad thumbs-up to have in Ohio ahead of Tuesday's primary. Ohio State University football coach Urban Meyer endorsed Gov. John Kasich for president today.

It�s not a bad thumbs-up to have in Ohio ahead of Tuesday�s primary.

Ohio State University football coach Urban Meyer endorsed Gov. John Kasich for president today.

�Go win this darn thing,� Meyer told the Republican in a video posted by Kasich�s campaign.

The nearly 2-minute video features a conversation between Kasich and the national championship football coach.

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Meyer tells Kasich he �did some research about all the great work, the great leadership you�ve shown for our great state. We�re very proud of you and Karen (Kasich�s wife) and your family and look forward to this.�

The men then talk about �raising the bar� in both politics and football, with Kasich invoking the name of legendary OSU coach Woody Hayes. �I don�t want to let people down and I�m sure you feel the same way,� Meyer says.

Calling Kasich a friend, Meyer says that he is a �true supporter of what you stand for.

�Now that I know what you really stand for, we�d like to tell you we wish you guys the best,� Meyer concludes as he exchanges a handshake with the governor.

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The endorsement represents a quick change of heart for Meyer.

When asked last month about political endorsements, he said,�My job description is very clear, and that�s to coach Ohio State football, and the focus is on 17 to 18 to 22-year-olds. I have strong beliefs but I�m not going to share that with you guys. I don�t think that�s appropriate.�

Ohio State spokesman Chris Davey said, "Urban and Shelly Meyer are close friends with John and Karen Kasich. This is something that Urban decided to do as a private citizen, not in his role as Ohio State football coach."

Former Buckeyes head coach Jim Tressel, another national championship winner, will appear with Kasich at a town hall early Sunday evening in Hanoverton in northeastern Ohio. Tressel now is president of Youngstown State University and has worked with Kasich on higher-education issues.

Polls show Kasich and GOP frontrunner Donald Trump locked in a potentially tight race in Ohio�s winner-take-all primary on Tuesday. A failure to win his home state marks a likely end to Kasich's campaign.

rludlow@dispatch.com

@RandyLudlow