West of Everest: An Oklahoma Football Podcast

Ep. 300 - Grant-Man & Lee in the Portalverse of Madness

No opening take as the guys open their 300th episode with our swan song for Dillon Gabriel as he takes his talents to Oregon. Grant says if Oregon makes the Playoff and OU goes 6-6 next year then Venables could be in trouble. Lee is looking forward to seeing DG play in the Big Ten (01:30). We dive into all the roster news involving Danny Stutsman, Billy Bowman, Cayden Green, and more (16:10). OU picks up a transfer WR from Purdue who reminds Grant of a former Sooners receiver. The OU WR room is looking outstanding right now (31:00). OU got a transfer CB out of SDSU and what's going to happen with Woodi Washington (38:35)? What's going on with Tawee Walker? The guys once again provide a full throated defense of what was OU's best running back for most of the season (43:40). We go down the list of Sooners who've entered the portal and are likely gone (55:50). The guys would love to see a few key defensive players come back next season (1:07:30). We turn our attention to the Alamo Bowl (1:09:45). We haven't talked about the Playoff teams yet, so we do it now. We both think Washington got jobbed and the Committee made the wrong call. Rants ensue, including a homer call by Lee that is impossible to prove. We also complain about OU missing out on a NY6 bowl game (1:19:40). Lee thinks we are on a crash course for a Texas-Alabama rematch with Texas winning it all and we hate it (1:38:00). A little on Jayden Daniels winning the Heisman, what's going on at Texas A&M?, and the SEC is about to release the full 2024 schedule (1:41:25). Grant wants to show some love for OU's unbeaten men's basketball team (1:54:30). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 299 - OU’s Got a New OC After Lebby Leaves for Starkville & OU-TCU Recap

We play an old Brent Venables soundbite that feels appropriate to open the show. Then the guys jump right into the news that OU is hiring Seth Littrell and Joe Jon Finey as Co-Offensive Coordinators (02:30). Jeff Lebby has left to become the head coach at Mississippi State (28:45). We read the "3 Word Reviews" from OU's 69-45 win over TCU, which gets us jumping around from topic to topic stemming from OU's regular season finale (49:00). Grant wants to rant about Oklahoma State beating BYU and playing in the Big 12 Title (1:34:00). We make our Conference Championship picks, which includes Lee amending his take on Iowa, plus even more Big Ten hate because why not (1:39:50)? We're annoyed by where OU's ranked and which bowl game they're likely to play in (2:00:00). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 298 - A Marathon TCU Preview to Honor the Final Big 12 Game (and Thanksgiving)

In the opening take, Lee talks about what he saw after rewatching Jackson Arnold in the 2nd half of the BYU game. Then Grant joins to talk about the fact that OU's about to play its final Big 12 game. Will we miss the Big 12 (6:10)? Will Dillon Gabriel play against TCU? If not, what should we expect from Jackson Arnold (14:30)? Lee provides some reasons why you should be optimistic about OU's chances against TCU, but also points out where there's some concern. OU's defensive line is struggling to get sacks, and TCU is perfectly capable of throwing all over the Sooners. At least OU's been awesome at getting takeaways, and it would be great if Gentry Williams is back healthy (23:25). TCU QB Josh Hoover is on a pretty hot run right now and the Frogs have some playmakers who can give OU trouble. This matchup for OU's offense may be the inverse of the UCF game. Lee has a couple of things that the Sooners may do on offense that has worked against TCU this season. We beg Jeff Lebby not to run Jackson Arnold all game because we don't want to see Davis Beville take a meaningful snap (39:30). TCU is playing for bowl eligibility, while OU's playing to send seniors like Drake Stoops out on a high note. Grant laments OU losing a couple games in what he says has been an easy schedule this season. Both offensive coordinators are from the Art Briles tree (49:00). The last time a true freshman made his first career start at Owen Field, Caleb Williams led OU to a double-digit win over TCU in 2021 (53:00). We turn our attention to the Big 12 games that don't have much consequence this week. Lee talks about how many bowl teams the Big 12 could get (55:45). Grant continues to rip OSU for not being a good team as we talk about the Cowboys' upcoming matchup with BYU (59:55). Oddsmakers sure seem to be telling us to take K-State against Iowa State. Our discussion leads to a talk about the fake 2020 season and how that's the only time Lincoln Riley has won a bowl game. Grant lays out a scenario that could have gotten OU to the Playoff in 2020 (1:03:40). Grant wants to talk about how OU has underachieved this season (and last season) and Grant uses Louisville as an example to make a really good point (1:10:20). Grant brings up Danny Stutsman not being in the mix for the Butkus award (1:20:30). We go to the picks where Lee continues to be hot somehow. We begin with Iowa-Nebraska so Lee can complain about how bad Iowa is. Grant lays out how Nebraska is choking once again (1:25:00). Next up is Texas Tech-Texas where a Red Raiders win would help out OU. Has Quinn Ewers been mid (1:31:00)? To the Oregon State-Oregon Civil War (1:34:10). Ohio State-Michigan is the biggest game of the week. The guys are on opposite sides. Lee wants to talk about Marvin Harrison Jr. compared to other recent elite college WRs (1:37:20). We finish up with the Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn. Can the Tigers please knock Alabama out of the Playoff race? Grant wants to know if Jayden Daniels will be considered for the top pick in the NFL Draft? And despite a lot of losses, Caleb Williams is surprisingly having a great statistical season (1:44:40). Hopefully OU wins Friday, but Grant can't help but be bothered by the fact that OU is probably going to let Texas win the Big 12 (1:52:15). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 297 - OU Wins Way Too Close for Comfort Game at BYU, But Hey the Sooners are 9-2

The guys gather a few hours after OU beat BYU 31-24 in Provo. Lee's in a mood to complain, yet he's still happy the Sooners are 9-2. Grant's mostly happy the team won the game and still has a chance to reach 10 wins in the regular season. What was up with the defense (outside of the 3 takeaways)? This game was just more evidence that Oklahoma is still a ways away from where we want them to be. Lee was disappointed by Jackson Arnold's play, while Grant was encouraged by what he saw from JA. Gavin Sawchuk continued his strong play and Lee complains about the way the running back situation has been handled all season (again). We finish up the show by reading your "3 Word Reviews". | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 296 - Potential BYU Pratfalls, ”3 Word Reviews”, and Defending Big 12 Teams

No opening take as the guys jump into reading the "3 Word Reviews" from OU's previous win over West Virginia. Topics include Dillon Gabriel and his future, Drake Stoops doing exactly what he should be doing given his situation, poor referees, and more (2:00)! We begrudgingly talk about this Big 12 tiebreaker story (22:15). The guys set the stage for OU's upcoming game at BYU. This is a bad football team, but Lee brings up reasons why OU should be focused. Grant provides a way he could see BYU having success against the Sooners (35:00). Is the Big 12 actually the 2nd best conference this season? Lee lays out his case. Grant doesn't fully buy in, but he can see the argument (50:10). We talk briefly about Jimbo Fisher getting fired (1:04:30). We talk about the week in the Big 12 (1:08:15). We make our weekly picks against the spread. Games include Louisville-Miami/Georgia-Tennessee/North Carolina-Clemson/Washington-Oregon State/Texas-Iowa State (1:16:15). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 295 - Sooners Look Like Early Season Self in Blowout of WVU

The guys gather Sunday morning to recap OU's dominating 59-20 win over West Virginia. Dillon Gabriel brushed off an uneven start to account for 8 total touchdowns. It was great to see Gavin Sawchuk get the bulk of the carries and Drake Stoops continued his exceptional play from Bedlam. The defense was mostly terrific after the first WVU drive of the game. The Sooners took advantage of 6 consecutive defensive stops to build a 31-7 1st half lead. *NOTE* We forgot to read "3 Word Reviews", so we'll plan on going through those to open the next episode. | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 294 - Is Brent Venables’ Patience Growing Thin With OU’s Offense?

In the opening take, Lee plays an interesting moment from Brent Venables' press conference and tells you what that exchange means. Then Grant joins as they talk briefly about OSU and the Big 12 Championship at the end of the season (5:00). Lee asks Grant what he thinks about the Venables comments on the OU offense. Of course we talk more about the problems on OU's offense, and Grant clarifies some comments he made on the last show (9:00). All the good will Jeff Lebby built up in the first 6 games are gone. We talk about Tawee Walker's health as well as Jovantae Barnes' limited appearance in Bedlam. And of course we must harp again on how bad the RBs have been handled this season (17:10). There seems to be a disconnect between Venables and Lebby and we wonder if Venables will take more control (24:30)? We talk injuries. If Stutsman is healthy, will he and Kip Lewis play at the same time? For some reason we go back to the OU-Georgia Rose Bowl (30:00). Lee thought Venables and Dillon Gabriel seemed a bit down this week. Does this team have the mental toughness to bounce back? Unity Uniforms are coming this week (35:30). OU's committing a lot of penalties, but Lee doesn't really feel like that's been the main reason for OU's struggles. Grant's still mad about Venables getting flagged in Bedlam (40:00). West Virginia is up next and Garrett Greene will put OU's defense in a lot of conflicting situations. WVU is playing its best ball of the season, and their defense is definitely better than OSU (46:45). We go around the Big 12 (53:35). We make our picks on Michigan-Penn State/Utah-Washington/Tennessee-Missouri/Ole Miss-Georgia/USC-Oregon (1:01:15). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 293 - It Looks Like Team 128 is Back as OU Loses Bedlam

The guys gather Sunday morning to talk all about OU's 27-24 loss to OSU. We air it all out here -- plus Grant provides one of the best rants on this podcast in a long, long time. The defense did enough to win, but once again the offense came up short in big spots. Do we need to call for some coaching changes? We also read your "3 Word Reviews". | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 292 - Sooners Search for Bedlam Win as Season Teeters on the Edge

In the opening take, Grant piles on to this OU team as we're still reeling from the Sooners recent loss to Kansas. Grant says this is the biggest game in Brent Venables' short tenure, while Lee has his sights set on Dillon Gabriel and his left arm (6:05). Lee thinks OU's offense should be better vs. OSU based on OSU's defensive scheme (10:50). Does OU's coaching staff understand the moment? Lee thinks Alan Bowman is playing his best football of his career (13:00). OU's defense is banged up. We both don't expect to see much from Danny Stutsman this week (19:00). Lee says OU's offense should have plenty of opportunities to gain a lot of yards against OSU's secondary (22:30). Grant brings up Gabe Ikard and Teddy Lehman being ultra critical of OU on one of their recent podcasts. We talk about the running game and the OL (25:00). Tawee Walker's injured. Will he play? Grant rants about Jovantae Barnes getting carries late vs. Kansas (31:00). Then Lee rants about OU's personnel on what was the final snap vs. Kansas. Get some tall guys out there (35:40)! OSU's got some good receivers and their RB is better than OU's running backs (39:00). Let's defend Tawee Walker and ask again why he hasnt played more (42:10). Collin Oliver stands out for OSU. The LBs are okay, and Lee reiterates that he thinks the DBs are not good. Grant's more confident in OU's defense and you never want to be a coach who loses a game where you had a high win exptectancy (44:30). We go around the Big 12 and give our thoughts on the weekend slate (53:30). We make our weekly picks. Games include K-State-Texas/Missouri-Georgia/Kansas-Iowa State/Washington-USC/LSU-Alabama (1:02:40). Grant loves the Michigan sign stealing story. Lee doesn't really care (1:15:00). Lee is interested in the Iowa-Minnesota "invalid fair catch" story, so for some reason they finish the show talking about Iowa (1:19:10). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 291 - Sloppy Sooners Lose to Kansas for First Time in 26 Years

It's not a fun one as the guys convene an hour after Oklahoma lost to Kansas 38-33 Saturday. Grant had been terrified of that game for the last couple of weeks and all of his fears came true. Lee laments two offensive tendencies that he's hated this season that both reared its ugly head in this game. Tawee Walker was terrific. Grant didn't like the way the defensive line played. OU killed themselves with penalties. The OU passing game was non-existent in poor weather. Danny Stutsman missed the entire 2nd half, but Kip Lewis filled in admirably. We hit on absolutely everything, plus your "3 Word Reviews". | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets