After some brief talk about the incredibly hot weather in Oklahoma, the guys talk about the recent anxiety surrounding Jackson Arnold's play at fall camp (6:30). After listening to other OU podcasts, it certainly seems like the team is dealing with a lot of minor injuries that are keeping players out of practice. Is this a problem, or just a way to keep the guys fresh for the season (23:40)? Lee rants about something that is annoying him that always seems to happen this time of year (32:00). Seems as if J.J. Hester will get his shot this season. Is R Mason Thomas finally healthy (42:00)? We check the WoE Facebook page and read comments and questions. What is the one road game you'd go to this season and next (45:15)? Is there a concern that multiple WRs have injury history (50:30)? We do a brief preview of Week Zero. FSU-Georgia Tech might be somewhat competitive. Grant has been practicing pronunciation ahead of the season (53:50). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 335 - Fall Camp Silly Season Has Arrived

The Sooners proved us wrong in all the best ways by beating No. 7 Alabama 24-3 Saturday in Norman. The offensive gameplan was terrific and included a lot of creative designs in the run game. Xavier Robinson continued to look like the best running back on the team. Joe Jon Finley deserves a ton of credit for his gameplan and execution. OU's defense was fantastic against a great Alabama offense. That was the best defensive performance since when?? And we read your 3-Word Reviews. | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 362 - OU Does Indeed Stun Everybody & Beats Bama Comfortably

Brent Venables opens the show with his story of late night Taco Bell following the win over Alabama. The guys are incredibly excited about this development and go into detail about why (00:00). Venables admitted he failed on the Seth Littrell hire. Does this do anything for you? Did the Alabama game show us what OU could have been this season with a competent offense (10:10)? Venables joked about DeMarco Murray finally letting Xavier Robinson play more. We don't think this is a laughing matter (20:35). We look at the improvement in OU's rush offense in the four games since Joe Jon Finley has been calling plays (27:00). Doesn't sound like Deion Burks or Jalil Farooq will be available this week (33:05). We preview the LSU game with all of the most interesting aspects of this matchup. LSU's pass offense is elite. Can OU's DBs cover? LSU's defense is not good. Can OU's offense replicate the success they had against Alabama? Venables has a chance to prove the Bama game was not a fluke (36:45). Brief thoughts on the SEC slate, followed by our weekly picks. Games include Memphis-Tulane/South Carolina-Clemson/Notre Dame-USC/Miami-Syracuse/Texas-Texas A&M (59:10). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 363 - OU's Latest Win Adds Extra Juice to Upcoming LSU Game

The guys discuss OU's 37-17 loss at LSU to close the regular season at 6-6 (2-6). It does appear the Alabama game was indeed an outlier outcome as the Sooners reverted back to what they've been for most of 2024. Grant has some historical analytical stats that show where the program is now compared to the 90s. After much big picture discussion, the guys jump into the actual game and go through all the big moments (and bad moments) that led to OU losing at LSU. At least one listener disagrees with our thoughts on Brent Venables and Lee brings up one coach who may be the best case scenario comp to Venables if he's going to succeed at OU. Plus we read your "3-Word Reviews". | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 364 - OU Fails to Build Off Stunning Win as Sooners Lose at LSU

The guys open the show briefly talking a little bit about Grant's upcoming trip to Europe, before getting into more important topics like Ben Arbuckle being hired as OU's offensive coordinator. We give our initial thoughts and go over some positive numbers. We also compare some of Arbuckle's numbers to Lincoln Riley and Seth Littrell (2:40). Venables announced that he will retain the offensive staff. Will that actually hold into 2025 (29:30)? Jackson Arnold is going to enter the transfer portal. Will Wazzu's John Mateer come to OU (42:50)? OU's going to need a lot of help on offense in 2025. Nic Anderson is entering the transfer portal as well. OU's injuries plus running back talk (53:30). Where do you stand on Deion Burks (1:02:50)? OU held on to Michael Fasusi, but the 2025 recruiting class is the lowest ranked for the Sooners in more than a decade (1:06:00). We read some comments from the WoE Facebook page (1:12:45). Discussing the College Football Playoff rankings. Grant's okay with Alabama being in line to get in. Lee thinks Miami is being under ranked. Grant was way out ahead of one very obvious problem with the current playoff system and Lee apologizes for going over the odds on who will win the National Championship (1:23:30). We finish up with our picks for Conference Championship Weekend (1:36:40). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 365 - Sooners Hire Intriguing Up-and-Comer Arbuckle to Fix Offense

In the opening take, Lee tries to figure out what OU's going to do to address their need for wide receivers in the transfer portal. Then Lee continues this solo show by talking about why he's struggling to find interest in all the recent OU news. He goes over some of the non-wide receivers who are departing through the transfer portal before taking a first look at the Sooners Armed Forces Bowl matchup with Navy. Lee has an issue with the way the Playoff teams are ranked, but he thinks the First Round matchups mostly have a lot of promise. He finishes up by taking a quick look at how OU's 2025 schedule sets up. | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 366 - Can We Trust Venables to Reload & Retool OU Through the Portal?

Grant is back from Rome. Deion Burks is returning to OU. Grant is hoping OU is not breaking the bank for him. Lee struggles to care about all the money stuff (2:30). BREAKING: John Mateer commits to OU in the middle of the pod. Will/can OU now go get a top tier WR out of the portal? The tight end room looks to be a mess and an unknown (13:10). Is OU bargain shopping in the portal? Will Joe Jon Finley and DeMarco Murray be on staff after the bowl game (33:25)? OU got commitments from a tackle from Stanford and a punter from Kennesaw State. Grant goes over some defensive targets for OU (41:45). What's going to happen with Damonic Williams (46:50)? Jackson Arnold is off to Auburn and LSU is taking two of OU's offensive players. Kalib Hicks will look to get some playing time at OSU and Makari Vickers is off to Colorado (55:15). Alex Grinch is the new DC at UCF and Bill Belichick is going to be a head coach in college football (1:03:30). We make our Playoff picks against the spread and randomly also pick the Hawaii Bowl (1:11:20). Grant predicted almost exactly how the 2024 season would play out (1:26:00). Some parting thoughts about OU-Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl (1:27:00). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 367 - Great News as Mateer Commits to OU

The first 10 minutes is Grant announcing this is now a basketball podcast, Lee asking Grant a pressing question about Colosseum in Rome, and the history of humans consuming combat sports. To OU football and the news that John Mateer received a call from Baker Mayfield. Lee wonders if Brent Venables is trying to recreate the Jeff Lebby/Dillon Gabriel recipe? Looking at OU's transfer portal additions, Grant wants to know what the goal is for next season (9:45)? Lee wonders if OU has a chance to get an offensive tackle from Washington State? Plus we talk about more former OU players finding homes at new places (30:15). We move our attention to the Armed Forces Bowl matchup against Navy. The betting line has moved significantly against OU. We talk about the interesting storylines and what we want to see in this game. Can this one bowl game mean anything for the future (37:00)? Grant did a great job predicting the first round of the CFP games. We have thoughts on people complaining about Indiana and SMU being a part of the tournament (54:10). We make some picks in random bowl games this week (1:08:15). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 368 - What to Make of the Portal Additions & Armed Forces Bowl Preview

OU closed out the season with a 21-20 loss to Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl. The Sooners finish 6-7 for the second time in the last three years. Join us as we go over all the ups and downs of another OU loss, read your 3-word reviews, and try to figure out what's going to happen next in the world of OU football. | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 369 - Bad Bowl Loss Clinches Another OU Losing Season Under Venables

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

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

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

Opinion and analysis of Oklahoma Sooners football from the viewpoints of a local media member and an OU fan living outside The Sooner State. New episodes every Thursday during football season.

Ep. 335 - Fall Camp Silly Season Has Arrived

West of Everest: An Oklahoma Football Podcast

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