When the Gophers got an airplane to fly a “Row the Boat” banner over Koi Perich’s high school playoff game in Brainerd in November, there wasn’t much belief within the football program that the four-star safety would stick with his pick of Minnesota.

The Gophers, however, felt they needed to do everything possible to keep from crashing out of the high-end recruiting sweepstakes.

Ohio State, Florida State and Southern Cal had entered the recruiting battle for one of the top 100 players in the nation. With those football powerhouses in the mix, it seemed to be setting up for a classic case of a top-flight program swooping in and plucking the top-ranked player in Minnesota.

That story has been written many times before.

But Perich bucked that trend Wednesday, signing a national letter of intent with the Gophers.

“Just being able to play in your own state and in front of all your home fans, being a hometown kid is going to be very fun,” Perich told the Duluth News Tribune and other outlets on Wednesday.

“We needed that one,” previously spurred Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck said. “We needed that one since we’ve been here, to get this thing going to be where we need it to be in (terms of) cultural sustainability.”

Fleck has felt the sting from other recent defections, including defensive lineman Jaxon Howard to LSU last year.

How did the Gophers make it happen with Perich? A combination of consistency and differentiation.

Fleck and safeties coach Danny Collins repeated the same messages to Perich for two years, relaying the culture and standard at Minnesota.

“He kept hearing the same thing over and over and every time we got back on the phone it was, ‘What else ya got?’ ‘Nothing,’ ” Fleck recalled Wednesday. “It’s the exact same thing I told you two years ago. The consistency of that, I think, rang true.”

Collins and Fleck emphasized the opportunity Perich has to come to the U, develop as a safety and head to the NFL. The string of predecessors who made it to the NFL were relayed: Antoine Winfield Jr., Jordan Howden, and Tyler Nubin up next to be drafted in April.

“The coaches were a huge part of it,” Perich said. “They led to a lot of my decision-making, but just the opportunity to play is also there. They have a first-round draft pick at their safety position (Nubin) and I just look to fill his role and hopefully get in that starting spot when I get there.”

Another appeal for Perich to stay home was giving his parents, Danielle and George, the opportunity to see both of their sons play on home Saturdays. Mason Perich is a redshirt freshman receiver at Minnesota State Mankato.

Collins has shared another facet of the Gophers’ message: “Legends never die.”

This line of thinking is often referenced when star players opts to go elsewhere. If they go to USC, per se, they are another star among stars, but if you stay home, you are adored and get to be the guy.

“I think it’s the whole package for him,” Fleck said. “Understanding what he can do and how that can help impact him when he’s here. The NIL (name, image and likeness compensation) when he is here. The difference he will be able to make in our community.

“We are talking about leaving a legacy, not only as a player but as a person,” Fleck continued. “I think people like that, that have opportunities to do other things, which are incredibly attractive, and rightfully so. You have to have your purpose and your mission bigger than what is being offered to you. I think that was really key for Koi.”

During the Gophers’ bye week in mid-October, Fleck and Peich traveled north to Esko to see Perich play live.

“You talk about one of the most competitive high school players I’ve ever watched live,” Fleck said Wednesday. “One of the best high school players I’ve ever watched live.”

During the first half of a game against Hermantown, Perich returned two interceptions for touchdowns.

“He was running down the sidelines and he just points at you,” Fleck said. “That was pretty cool, pretty unique. We would like him to keep his eyes on the goal line and go ahead and finish. … But if you are going to point at me, I’ll take it.

“Especially if you are going to stay committed to us,” Fleck continued. “That even made it better because that could be a rub in your face, ‘I’m going somewhere else, or hey I’m staying (with) you.’ You just don’t know which one it was.”

While in the gray area, the Gophers tried to dose the right amount of conversation and engagement with Perich.

“We kept our communication very live,” Fleck said, “And if he ever said, ‘I need a little time to think,’ we gave him that time.”

When that “Row the Boat” banner flew over Esko’s playoff game, the Buckeyes and Seminoles were in the thick of the College Football Playoff conversation — and Minnesota was getting blown out by a two-win Purdue team.

It didn’t look good at the time.

Then Perich said he had a “great” official visit in Columbus, Ohio, in early December, and last week, Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day visited him in Esko.

Dominoes were falling in the opposite direction, and it was coming down to the last minute. Then Perich started to build his legend.

“He’s a special person and a special player,” Fleck said. “I can’t tell you how much his commitment means to the future of our program. And I think he knows that, too.”

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