Start with a new head coach. Add in a highly paid former top prospect going in the wrong direction. Throw in a demanding fan base staring at another shaky season.

What you get is a combustible situation, made more complex by the large dollars involved with said player.

Before the Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) era, Bryce Underwood’s shaky play would’ve resulted in a seat on the bench. Fans would be disappointed. Some criticism would have been sent Underwood’s way.

This is a different era. Players make big bucks, and part of being paid like a professional is being expected to perform like one. So, as Underwood has continued to struggle, the volume has increased for a change, and the dissatisfaction with him has risen.