The Michigan football team arrived in California,...

The Michigan football team arrived in California, fulfilling a promise that Coach Bo Schembechler made when he recruited the squad’s seniors.

The Wolverines (11-1), co-champions of the Big Ten with Ohio State, will play Pac-10 champion Arizona State (9-1-1) New Year’s Day in the 73rd Rose Bowl game.

“Bo promised we’d get out here and he always delivers,” offensive tackle John Elliott said at an unscheduled news conference at Ontario Airport, where the Wolverines’ charter flight landed.

Michigan hasn’t played in a Rose Bowl game since 1983, when the Wolverines lost, 24-14, to UCLA.

“This has been our longest dry spell, in terms of Rose Bowl appearances,” Schembechler said. “We’re very happy, indeed, to be out here again.

“It’s a very special experience for Big Ten players to play in the Rose Bowl. We, in the Midwest, all are aware of how much this game means to both conferences. It’s something every player shoots for.”