Bill Wentz ’68 remembers an unforgettable trip to the Gator Bowl

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Bill Wentz ’68 (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) says, “During the 1967-1968 school year, Penn State was in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville on the day before New Year's Eve. A group of us decided to party in Daytona Beach for a few days before the game.” 

“I met Art Keen ’68 (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) in Lancaster the day after Christmas and we drove his MGB straight through from Lancaster to Daytona. This was before the days of I-95, and I think it took about 23 hours. We met Ken Moore ’68 (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), Jon Martin ’68 (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and a couple of Kenny's high school friends there.” 

“Funded like typical college students, we had all six of us in a motel room that cost $18 per night. Went to the grocery and stocked up on Busch beer and hot dogs. Cheap, but not highly nutritious (although I did learn later that beer is considered a food under German law).” 

“Spent the next few days doing some sightseeing and mostly clubbing.” 

“I remember a high-speed night drive on the beach in Kenny's Mustang, which, by the way, he still has. See the picture below from his Facebook page.” 

“We smuggled a pipe cutter into the game, but security was too tight to get down on the field for the goalposts.” 

“We did meet some others at the game - I think I remember Bob Pepple ’68 (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) being there - not sure who else. I can say that a good time was had by all.”