West of Everest: An Oklahoma Football Podcast

Ep. 379 - Unnecessary Expectations and Why No Difference Makers at RB?

The show announces a new presenting sponsor, Lee gets bleeped, and then we finally start talking about OU football. The guys are back on the practice field following spring break. Is anybody else getting a clear Dillon Gabriel/Jeff Lebby 2022 feeling with Mateer/Arbuckle? Is the Mayfield/Riley 2015 analogy more fitting? Plus fun nostalgic MTV Spring Break thoughts (2:50)! OU released a mic'd up video of Arbuckle and Mateer. There's a couple of interesting takeaways, mainly regarding two apparently key WRs (14:00). Lee doesn't understand the unnecessary expectations that was thrusted on two promising young offensive linemen. Grant doesn't find it to be that big of a deal (21:00). More reactions to the Oklahoma Breakdown Podcast as they recently talked about OU's running back room. Why does that position group not have any difference makers at the moment (32:40)? Mike Gundy's Bedlam spring proposal (42:40). Breaking down John Mateer's play in Washington State's 29-26 win over SDSU in Week 9. This game showed us something about Mateer that hopefully is a very positive sign for the future (46:00). For basketball fans, we talk about OU's first round exit to UConn in the NCAA Tournament (1:13:55).

Ep. 378 - Javonnie Gibson Might Be Good & Can We Be Positive About the O-Line?

After some brief basketball talk the guys get to talking about the ramifications of Jayden Gibson suffering a small setback in his recovery from his knee injury (1:50). Javonnie Gibson has a lot of people talking early in spring practice. Is this real (16:00)? We're all rooting for Jaren Kanak to be a good tight end (21:20). Who knows what's going to happen with the running back room (28:15)? Grant's excited about what he's heard about Troy Everett. Lee wants to know if it's okay to be positive about the offensive line again (32:50)? Let's talk about David Stone and what the defensive line could look like, but we must remind everybody that OU's secondary is a problem. And Grant wants to talk about Taylor Heim (41:15). Breaking down John Mateer's performance against Hawaii in Week 8 of the 2024 season. The stats were terrific (47:50). We give some love to the OU men's basketball team who looks to be on their way to the NCAA Tournament (57:45). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 377 - Spring Brings a New GM, the ”Crimson Combine”, & Injury Updates

The guys are back and jump right into what Brent Venables said Wednesday at his pre-spring press conference. Venables had another incredibly long opening statement. He also announced players who will not be active during spring practice (2:05). Venables also confirmed that he did not call OU's defense in 2024 (16:30). OU will not have a spring game in 2025. Grant is not happy about college football slowly transitioning to more of a pro football model. Can the "Crimson Combine" be successful (19:10)? Thoughts on Jim Nagy being named OU's GM. What do we hope he's good at? Is the NFL front office model the future? Grant's open to this being a good hire, but the OU football program has not earned the benefit of the doubt the past three years (32:40). Grant takes a look at the preseason SP+ rankings. Let's all nervously laugh at OU's super hard schedule (50:45). Lee goes over some of the things John Mateer said at his first OU press conference. We finish up by breaking down Mateer's performance against Fresno St. during the 2024 season. Mateer did not play well (57:45). Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 376 - Kevin Wilson Returns, Mateer vs. Boise State, & OU’s Win Total

We open the show with some brief talk about the upcoming segment breaking down Washington State's Week 5 game against Boise State. After that they jump into the news that Kevin Wilson has reportedly been added to the staff as an offensive analyst (2:50). The Washington State-Boise State game was a good watch and super interesting. John Mateer played pretty well against the best team he saw all season. He made one horrible mistake, but him and Ben Arbuckle continue to raise Washington State's offense (15:25). We take a look at OU's 2025 schedule and try to predict what OU's Vegas win total will be. What should be the expectation for number of wins in 2025 (50:40)? Grant jinxed the basketball team months ago. Yes, we finish up the show with our half-baked thoughts on the men's team being bad. Lee also has a quick plug for a separate podcast (1:00:55). Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 375 - DeMarco Murray Still on Staff After Interest from Penn State

The guys jump right into the news that DeMarco Murray was a candidate for the Penn State running backs coach job, but will stay at OU after all. Lock in for another DeMarco Murray/OU running backs discussion (1:30). Lee did not quite realize how lowly ranked OU's 2025 signing class is. This takes us on a journey of OU's previous recruiting classes. The 2017 class was incredible (28:05). Over to the John Mateer/Ben Arbuckle 2024 watch as Washington State won a 54-52 2OT shootout against San Jose State. Mateer and Arbuckle continued to show a lot of promise, while Mateer also provided two massive lowlights. Through 4 games we are still very much pleased about what we've seen from both Mateer and Arbuckle (41:20). Jalen Hurts and the Eagles dominated the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, it was a very poor game (1:14:00). The guys inexplicably close the show with thoughts on the OU men's basketball team (1:23:35). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 374 - OU Adds Two New Coaches + Mateer & Arbuckle Looking Good

Grant opens the show by reminding everybody that DeMarco Murray and Joe Jon Finley continue to be on staff and presents a new conspiracy theory. We transition smoothly to OU bringing on Nate Dreiling and Wes Goodwin to coach linebackers. Brent Venables also announced that he will be calling plays in 2025 (7:45). Ben Arbuckle is going to make $1.5M per year (25:05). Thoughts on John Mateer and Ben Arbuckle in Washington State's win in Week 3 over Washington. There's a lot of good with this duo through three games (28:10). Brian Hartline is going to be the next OC at Ohio State. Grant really likes this guy (1:04:45). Obligatory thoughts on the upcoming Super Bowl matchup (1:07:05). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 373 - Knowles to Penn State & Mateer’s Elite Running vs. Tech

The guys are back to talk about Jim Knowles leaving Ohio State, but not taking the OU job. Grant's not happy that OU may have lost a head-to-head battle with Penn State. Could OU have matched Penn State's offer and chose not to? Was this all about Knowles getting closer to home? We think the ceiling for 2025 could have been much higher with Jim Knowles on staff. Plus more comparisons to the 90s (1:15). We continue our breakdown of John Mateer's 2024 season at Washington State by providing our thoughts on Wazzu's 37-16 win over Texas Tech in Week 2. Mateer was not very sharp through the air, but was dazzling with his legs running the football. We saw some good from Ben Arbuckle... and some bad (36:45). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 372 - Jim Knowles Rumors & Mateer’s First Collegiate Start

The guys are back to talk about the latest Jim Knowles rumors (2:00). Curtis Lofton stepped down as OU's GM recently (27:10). We begin our season-long watch of John Mateer and Ben Arbuckle at Washington State. First up is Wazzu's Week 1 win over Portland State (36:00). The guys give their thoughts on Ohio State winning the National Championship and Grant is still not enjoying the expanded playoff now that we're through the first year (57:40). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 371 - Great News for the Defense & Discussing a Dream Hypothetical

Grant opens the show with some recent news that required a visit to urgent care. We get past that to get to the great news that R Mason Thomas is coming back and FSU transfer Marvin Jones Jr. will join him on the defensive line (3:20) OSU transfer Kendal Daniels is joining the roster as well. What will be his role? Grant seems to think he could play more linebacker than DB (11:20). Lee saw a tweet that caught his eye that leads to a major hypothetical situation that involves OU's defensive coordinator opening (19:15). Joe Jon Finley and DeMarco Murray continue to be on staff. Is it possible Ben Arbuckle can improve the offensive staff as a whole (27:00)? We answer a listener question about the types of players OU has gotten out of the transfer portal so far. Brent Venables' formula for 2025 is looking more and more clear (34:20). We wrap it up with our final thoughts on the CFP semifinals and how the first year of the 12-team playoff has not been as fun as we had hoped (43:40). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 370 - Zac Alley Leaves & OU Does Get Some Good News for 2025

In the opening take, Lee gives his thoughts on Zac Alley's departure from OU's coaching staff. Then Grant joins to give his take on the matter and what it may mean (7:40). Who's going to be hired as the next defensive coordinator? What will it tell us, if anything (17:00)? OU has gotten some good news lately with some important players announcing their returns in 2025. What's up with that cryptic R Mason Thomas post? Plus we look at what you can hope for if things are going to go well for OU in 2025 (29:25). Lewis Carter entered the portal and OU has not made any staff changes. Plus we go over some other news and notes after OU adds some more random guys from the portal (48:20). Some College Football Playoff talk as Grant laments Texas and their path. Plus it's clear the seeding format needs to be tweaked (56:00). The guys make their picks for the CFP Semifinals (1:03:10). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets