Add Fox Sports to the growing list of national media outlets that have had enough of the SEC’s ‘excuses’ this summer.

In a story published Thursday morning, Stewart Mandel writes “after consecutive disappointing postseasons, we’re hearing a slew of excuses from SEC coaches why they’re no longer dominating the rest of the country. Which is not only insufferable, but patently absurd.”

I tend to agree.

Nick Saban, at SEC Media Days, alluded to the belief that the NFL’s early draft grades may have derailed his team’s focus a bit in prep for Ohio State in the College Football Playoff. Then, Auburn’s Gus Malzahn revealed that he thought playing in the SEC West put his team at a competitive disadvantage with respect to other Playoff hopefuls.

The trials and tribulations of an SEC schedule — too many ranked opponents — are just too much to overcome from a physical standpoint.

Mizzou’s Gary Pinkel finished up the whiny trifecta during ESPN’s ‘Car Wash’ this week when he said Notre Dame should be forced to join a conference to be Playoff eligible.

Despite being an independent, believe it or not, the Fighting Irish’s schedule is often littered with games against nationally-ranked competition.

Not sure what the NFL has to do with anything, but okay.

Mandel goes on to blast the SEC in his column for avoiding non-conference road games and having the audacity to complain about satellite camps. It’s a good read.

We ask you, SEC fans, are coaches making realistic points or is this another case of sour grapes?