An overhaul for Lindsey Nelson Stadium remains on hold due to lack of funding.

"We need a hero for baseball,'' Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton said, "someone to step forward and make a leadership gift.''

If that doesn't happen, Hamilton said he would consider any proposal by the city to cooperate on a new stadium off campus.

"There's been a lot of talk for a long period of time,'' Hamilton said, "but there is nothing out there that's formal in any shape or form.

"If we felt like there was a plan that we could be involved with that made sense for our program, then certainly we'd have to take a look at that.''

The Lady Vols are closely watching the developments. If UT baseball were to move off campus, women's softball would move from Tyson Park into Lindsey Nelson.

However, women's athletic director Joan Cronan said softball isn't sitting pat. Architects are working up plans for a first-rate facility to be built at Tyson Park for the 2007 season - assuming baseball stays at Lindsey Nelson.

"I think a decision (on baseball) will be made in a timely manner,'' Cronan said.

It's been nearly two years since a feasibility study proposed a $4.6 million baseball makeover at Lindsey Nelson. But lack of funding has prevented it from going forward.

"Our facility, while it was very nice when it was built in the early 1990s, has now fallen behind significantly among our peers in the Southeastern Conference,'' Hamilton said.

Location would be key any potential joint venture with the city.

"We want our students and faculty and staff to be involved with our baseball program,'' Hamilton said. "Are we talking campus adjacent or downtown?''

Aquatic On Target: Final bids are expected Sept. 20 on the new campus aquatic center project. Hamilton anticipates an October groundbreaking as scheduled.

The facility design was scaled down after the initial bid process came in several million dollars over projection.

No Report Yet: Hamilton said UT has not issued a final summary on its investigation into possible recruiting violations of basketball player Tyler Smith of Giles County High School.

"It's still ongoing,'' he said, "but I think there will be closure sooner rather than later.''

Smith reopened his recruitment rather than play for new coach Bruce Pearl. He is expected at attend Hargrave Military Academy.

LSU At Night: The Sept. 24 football game at LSU likely will be at night and televised by ESPN. For that date, ESPN has first pick among SEC games, said Charles Bloom of the SEC office.

ESPN has until Sept. 12 to make the pick official, Bloom said.

Tennis Defections: Three players did not return to the UT men's tennis team, coach Chris Mahony announced.

Ockie Oosthuizen indicated he will remain in South Africa. He played No. 3 singles as a sophomore and teamed with Ben Rogers on the Vols' No. 1 doubles team.

Morgan Wilson played mostly No. 4 singles as a freshman and was 13-2 at No. 2 doubles, teaming with Mark Dietrich. Wilson will remain in Australia.

Matt Berry, who saw limited action, plans to transfer to another school.

Mahony opens his first season as head coach on Sept. 16 in a tournament at Costa Mesa, Calif.

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276.