When it was announced the Los Angeles Rams would be the NFL’s most air-traveled team this regular season at 36,983 miles, including a trip to London, their itinerary was described as “dreaded.”

When it was noted the Oakland Raiders would cover 32,748 miles with a stop in Mexico City, the travel was termed “daunting.”

For the University of Hawaii football team those are but warm-ups.

The Rainbow Warriors figure to do approximately 36,000 miles — or almost one and a half times around the earth — before the end of October. And 46,500 miles by season’s end, pending some late adjustments.

They will pick up more miles than four teams, Baltimore, Detroit, Cleveland and Pittsburgh, combined.

If ESPN isn’t interested in following the ’Bows this season, maybe the National Geographic Channel will be.

Just getting to and from the site of the Aug. 27 season opener, Sydney, Australia, UH will cover more miles (10,142) than either the Steelers (7,704) or Browns (8,686) will fly the entire regular season and preseason, according to figures compiled by Delta Airlines, as reported on Seahawks.com.

Understand that UH head coach Nick Rolovich seeks no sympathy to go with his aisle seat. “Hey, it is what Warriors do,” Rolovich said.

True, but never to the extent they will undertake in 2016.

Unlike some past years there will be no doubling up on road games on one trip. There will, however, be more regular-season games away from Aloha Stadium, seven, than anytime in the school’s history.

One concession to their globetrotting will be a charter flight from Honolulu to Ann Arbor, Mich., for the Sept. 3 game at Michigan’s “The Big House.”

“Our partner, Hawaiian Airlines, really stepped up to help us,” said associate athletic director Carl Clapp, and UH said it is investing $317,000 of the $1 million guarantee from the Wolverines into getting to and from the game with the longest charter in school history.

But when travel arrangements for the season are finalized, UH may still end up with more bus trips than charter flights. It may know the TSA staff at Honolulu International Airport on a first-name basis.

UH estimates it will spend about $673,000 on airfare and that is with Australian promoters picking up the tab for the Sydney game against California.

Rolovich is philosophical “We’re Hawaii. Traveling is all we’ve really known. It is a reality for us. We’re not getting any closer (to the mainland). The lava isn’t moving fast enough and the bridge plans aren’t up yet.”

It is a far cry from the leather helmet days when the ’Bows would board a ship, go to the mainland for a couple of games and play the rest of the season at Honolulu Stadium.

As recently as 2001, Rolovich’s senior year, UH played just three road games a season and finished with six in a row at home.

One benefit to leading all of football, pro and college, in travel is that the UH players are permitted to keep the commercial miles they log.

That’s if they still feel like traveling some more.

AIRING IT OUT

Football teams’ miles traveled in 2016

* Teams playing a game in London.

Source: Delta Airlines for NFL teams and Star-Advertiser research for UH.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.