Turns out Nebraska is salty over Oregon State emptying its roster. Huskers coach Scott Frost said as much on Thursday while explaining why the Huskers added OSU to the list of schools prohibited to contact potential transfer Greg Bell.

Frost thinks the Beavers may have tampered.

I have to admit, I liked it. Nebraska isn't miffed at Oklahoma or Texas. It's not even mad at Oregon. It's irked by Oregon State, and I hope this kind of stuff keeps happening.

"There's no doubt in my mind that those kids were probably in touch with some people that they formerly knew that were here," Frost said.

He was speaking about three Nebraska players who recently transferred to Corvallis, including former four-star recruits Tyjon Lindsey (receiver) and Tristan Gebbia (quarterback). Bell, who started the first three games for Frost, requested a transfer. His release was granted, however, with stipulations. The release restricted Bell from talking with fellow Big Ten members, non-conference opponents of Nebraska over the next three years... and Oregon State.

Again, I sort of love it. Because it's a departure for the Beavers from the quiet, polite, nice-guy image they've cast over the years. Now, they're pirates, raiding the four-star talent. And while we all know Mike Riley may be mixed up behind the scenes some, it's Jonathan Smith's program now, and I admire that he's making people uncomfortable.

Oregon State should be edgy.

It should be trying to win.

It should want to be a tough out.

In that, Frost's pointed comments are a welcome diversion from the smiling, polite, aw-shucks Beavers from past seasons. And I hope it continues, of course, within the NCAA rules.

Frost went on to say on Thursday that he doesn't want to sound like a hypocrite. He still occasionally speaks to some of his former players. Coaches who leave programs, after all, have relationships with the players they recruited and coached. That makes sense. But in addition to Riley, former Nebraska assistant Trent Bray is also on staff at OSU. Also, three former members of Nebraska football administrative staff are back in Corvallis, too, including Smith's director of operations, Daniel Van De Riet.

Still, Frost said: "If someone is contacting our kids while they're still our kids, then I'm not going to be a fan of that."

This was much different than Hawaii coach Nick Rolovich in May, who vented on social media about the Beavers sending invitations to their spring game to current UH players. That annoyance, it turns out, was a clerical error made by someone in OSU's recruiting department. A button was pushed, and a mass mailing went out to an old database of players. It was sloppy, but it wasn't necessarily OSU raiding the roster.

This one feels different. Oregon State looks like a grown-up football program. The Beavers have presented themselves as a welcome destination for players who aren't feeling the Frost-era Huskers. And I think players know they can transfer to Corvallis and play almost right away.

Of course, under new NCAA transfer rules that go into effect later this month, Bell can re-apply for his release and Nebraska can't limit his destination. Nebraska knows it. Frost even mentioned it. The point is moot. Bell can soon transfer wherever he's wanted. So it appears that Nebraska wanted to send a -- STAY AWAY FROM OUR PLAYERS -- message to Oregon State.

I hope the Beavers ignore it.