Ep. 423 - EVERYONE is Talking About John Mateer
06 July 2026

Ep. 423 - EVERYONE is Talking About John Mateer

West of Everest: An Oklahoma Football Podcast

About

John Mateer has been the talk of the college football world for the last 6-9 days.


Lee and Grant discuss Mateer’s viral offseason moments and the recent reports about his thumb injury, throwing motion, mechanics, and offseason work to become a better passer. 


Plus the guys talk about OU moving its 2026 season opener against UTEP to Friday night, the NCAA’s proposed five-year eligibility model, and a few corrections from last week’s episode!


We save some World Cup talk for the end if that interests you.


Chapters/Timecodes


00:00 — Opening Take -- John Mateer’s big week: viral squat video, Manning Passing Academy and throwing mechanics
06:16 — Show correction: 31 personnel vs. 13 personnel
07:19 — Lee and Grant reintroduce themselves to new YouTube viewers
10:07 — West of Everest’s role in the OU football podcast ecosystem
12:29 — Grant’s reaction to all the John Mateer offseason attention
14:52 — Mateer’s viral front squat video and Manning Passing Academy look
19:50 — Breaking down Mateer’s throwing motion and release
20:08 — Why Mateer still looks like a natural three-quarter arm passer
21:15 — Comparing pre-injury and post-injury Mateer
24:01 — Watching Mateer’s Oklahoma debut against Illinois State
24:45 — Mateer’s arm angle, release style and natural throwing motion
25:03 — Mateer’s arm strength and the Josh Allen comparison
25:49 — Why changing quarterback mechanics takes time and thousands of reps
28:15 — Evaluating recent Manning Passing Academy clips
31:09 — Reviewing more Mateer throws from Manning Passing Academy
36:41 — Oklahoma’s 2026 season opener against UTEP moves to Friday night
37:02 — Roger Denny’s statement on the Friday night opener
37:51 — Why the Friday opener gives OU an extra day before Michigan
41:04 — Looking back at OU’s previous Friday night opener against Temple
41:20 — Why West of Everest sounded the alarm early on the 2024 OU offense
43:25 — Comparing the Temple opener to Mateer’s Illinois State debut
44:33 — What elite Oklahoma offenses used to look like against overmatched opponents
45:58 — NCAA’s proposed five-year eligibility model
47:06 — How the new age-based eligibility clock would work
48:33 — Why the proposed model could change redshirts and record books
52:52 — Can the NCAA actually enforce new eligibility rules after recent lawsuits?
54:02 — Collective bargaining, unions and the future of college athlete rules
57:02 — Show corrections segment begins
57:52 — Revisiting the Kip Lewis linebacker discussion
01:00:00 — Curtis Lofton correction: best OU linebacker since Rufus Alexander?
01:01:16 — Minnesota football and paying players in the 1980s
01:04:29 — Happy Fourth of July and World Cup talk
01:04:48 — Why the USMNT in the World Cup still feels like a big deal
01:06:02 — Folarin Balogun, red cards and FIFA decision-making
01:10:19 — Soccer replay debate: slow motion, red cards and rule interpretation
01:13:01 — Comparing replay in soccer to replay in football
01:16:17 — Should red cards punish intent, danger or outcome?
01:22:41 — What soccer might look like with a few rule tweaks
01:25:19 — Closing thoughts and where to follow West of Everest


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