Commodores feel lucky after bus accident

Nashville, Tenn. The Vanderbilt Commodores are feeling lucky after surviving a bus crash en route to the Georgia game.

A tractor-trailer cab swerved Saturday to avoid a stopped car and hit the third bus in a five-bus caravan taking 25 Vanderbilt coaches, players and staff to Athens to play No. 5 Georgia. The fourth bus barely avoided the collision.

“We were very fortunate it wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been,” Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson said. “It’s nothing we want to make light of.”

No one was seriously injured, and team doctors treated several people for cuts and minor ailments.

Alvarez: Evans will not play this season

Madison, Wis. Wisconsin wide receiver Lee Evans will not play this season and has not made a decision about his future.

Coach Barry Alvarez said Monday that doctors decided Evans needs more time to heal and rest after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last April.

Alvarez said he doesn’t know whether Evans will return to Wisconsin or make himself eligible for the NFL Draft.

Georgia lineman out

Athens, Ga. More bad news for Georgia: Star offensive tackle Jon Stinchcomb will need arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and won’t be able to play against Kentucky. The fifth-ranked Bulldogs (7-0) already knew they would be without top rusher Musa Smith and Fred Gibson, their second-leading receiver.

Heels’ Chapman ailing

Chapel Hill, N.C. North Carolina defensive end Will Chapman will have wrist surgery Friday and will miss this week’s game against Wake Forest.

Vols’ Clausen practicing

Knoxville, Tenn. Tennessee quarterback Casey Clausen practiced for the first time Monday and hopes to play against Alabama this weekend. Clausen is scheduled to have his shoulder of his non-throwing arm re-evaluated on Tuesday, which will help determine whether he can safely play.