This notion was planted in the minds of the players by Matt Campbell
This is not unique to ISU or MC, but anybody that thought MC was different or unique was really gullible.
Despite the fact that their industry exists only because fans shell out money to buy tickets, merchandise, donate, and subscribe to TV networks and their apps, coaches despise fans. They know they have to tolerate them, or act like they tolerate them, and there are moments when people are lapping up their ******** that they might actually like the fans, but generally they want the fans to sacrifice to shell out their last dollars so they can make $5M a year and they can rent some players for a couple years, then STFU.
None of this is hard. Fans are the customers. Coaches and players are service providers. When coaches and players cash the checks from the customers, then bail for more money from other customers, fans are going to be a bit salty. Unfortunately the industry is set up like this, and instead of revolting to create some organization and structure that can protect the customers a little and ensure long-term health of the sport, fans are racing each other to keep shelling out even more.
It's not the players' fault. They are constantly getting the us against the world nonsense within the football facilities. And I don't blame players for getting annoyed with fans. There are some real douche-ass fans out there.
Good luck to Cooper. He busted his ass at ISU, did some great things, and I'm guessing wasn't raking in a ton of money. Having a major injury definitely should make any player realize that nothing is guaranteed, and getting some cash to help solidify your future is totally reasonable. But don't publicly put out snarky comment to fans. There isn't some magical pot of money that appears, and a bunch of fans just coexist with it. Like it or not, those fans are the reason you have these opportunities.