But instead of dwelling on it, the top University of Hawaii quarterback has closed the door on his mistake last spring and opened a new one this fall.

"I've put everything behind me right now," Carey said after yesterday's first practice of fall camp. "It's like a big weight is off of my shoulders. In my mind, it's over and done with."

Carey was arrested last spring in a Chinatown gambling raid. Rainbows athletic director Hugh Yoshida revoked his scholarship, but didn't suspend the Stanford University transfer from any games.

Carey pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor gambling charges. He conceded it was a big mistake, but didn't want to be remembered for that.

"People are always going to think what they want," Carey said. "The way I looked at it, personally, was I had never done anything wrong before and I made a stupid mistake.

"I've been punished for it, but hopefully everyone can see that's enough punishment and put it behind me, let me play my last season. If I have a good season, people are going to forget about things. I think that's it. As long as I concentrate on football and do well, it should be OK."

Carey is currently the No. 1 quarterback based on his play last spring and the nagging leg injury to Dan Robinson. UH head coach Fred vonAppen hasn't said Carey will start in the opener against the University of Minnesota, but it's apparently his job to lose.

"It's a good feeling knowing you don't have to worry about all the other stuff," Carey said. "I'm not thinking about any other quarterbacks, just my own game.

"The coaches aren't putting any pressure on me. I guess I could put it on myself, but I'm not really doing that. It's been a long time since I've been in a position like this, but I had battles every year (except his first) for the starting job at Stanford.

"I've been in it, so I don't think I've really lost anything since high school. I have confidence in myself and I know I can do it. I wasn't going to give up. That's why I came here. Otherwise, I would have just stayed at Stanford University and graduated."

INJURY UPDATE: Senior center Shane Oliveira didn't make it through half of practice before his often-injured ankles started causing him pain.

The big man said he was frustrated because the surgery he had last season was supposed to take care of the bone chips that were affecting his Achilles tendons.

"The trainers say it's just because I haven't been playing in eight months, but it doesn't feel like that," Oliveira said. "It feels like it did last year before I had the surgery. It's very frustrating."

The UH training staff said Oliveira would work every-other-day to see if that would help ease the pain. Pushing off and blocking big bodies on the soft grass could be part of the problem as well, they said.

Robinson also has been put on a similar schedule at least through this week. The backup quarterback is still bothered by shinsplints, but did take part in yesterday's practice.

"He was about to start conditioning and I told him not to," UH offensive coordinator Wally English said. "I told him did he want to run or did he want to rest and have a chance to play. He needs to slow down and get that leg well."

ODOM BACK IN TOWN: Former standout linebacker Mark Odom attended yesterday's practice to oversee a couple of his players from Interlake High School in Bellevue, Wash.

"I'm the head coach there now, so I wanted to visit with Matt Scruggs and Mike Iosua to see how they're doing," Odom said. "I also was in town to see my brother, Zac, graduate.

"There aren't too many familiar faces out here, but it's still great to be back in Hawaii. I'm certainly enjoying myself."

Odom not only is a high school coach, but also an investment adviser. It makes for a full day, but it's something Odom likes to do.

"I never thought I would be a head coach," Odom said. "It just started out as a part-time thing that led to a full-time job. I'm also enjoying my time with Zac (who is now a graduate assistant for UH). He wants to coach or teach, so this is a great opportunity for him."

DEFENSIVE PLAY OF THE DAY: Senior free safety Eddie Klaneski welcomed junior quarterback Dan Robinson to camp by intercepting a pass intended for McClain. The tight end ran a simple out pattern. Klaneski read it all the way. He dove in front of McClain for the nice interception.

INJURY REPORT: Center Shane Oliveira missed part of the morning and all of the afternoon workout because of ankle problems. He will go every other day for the rest of this week. Dan Robinson practiced with sore shinsplints, but also is on an every-other-day regimen. Matt Elam was held from the morning practice because of an eye problem, but was back for the afternoon workout. Robert Kemfort tore the webbing in his hand, but was still able to practice.

TRANSACTION WIRE: Stanford transfer Jauron Pigg took his drug test and probably will be available for today's practice. He is still waiting to hear whether the NCAA will let him be eligible to play this season. The UH coaching staff has him penciled in at defensive back, but he apparently wants to play wide receiver. Franklin Yearby-Saunders is still missing in action. Coaches will know tomorrow whether he is academically eligible.

WEATHER REPORT: Off-and-on overcast skies kept the temperature from climbing into the 90s during the morning workout. The evening workout also was cooler than the high of 89.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "This is very frustrating. I thought the surgery was supposed to let me play pain-free. Right now, it hurts now almost as much as it did before I had the surgery."
-- Shane Oliveira on ankle injury