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Why would four college students hatch the goofy idea of eating at the same restaurant for 121 consecutive days?

Simple.

Because they're four college students.

College is the time for goofy ideas, along with learning and that other stuff. Eating at the same restaurant for 121 consecutive days is the son of Volkswagen stuffing. The grandson of goldfish swallowing. If you went to college and didn't do something goofy, you missed the whole point of higher education.

So when 22-year-old seniors Dan Bassett, Brian Eisenhardt, Katie Guthrie and Erin Rickert march down the aisle today, May 4, to receive their University of Dayton diplomas, they can take satisfaction in knowing they received the full benefit of their college experience.

It started Jan. 6, the day before second semester classes started. Sitting in Milano's Atlantic City Submarines on the fringe of the UD campus, roommates Bassett and Eisenhardt started bantering about eating there every day until graduation.

"At that point we thought we were being ridiculous," admits Dan, an economics and leadership major from St. Louis. "But after about week two, we thought 'this is actually doable.' "

Not only was it doable, it was recruitable. Because, even though college women are reputed to be quite a bit less goofy-oriented than college men, they were able to add Erin Rickert and Katie Guthrie to their "Milano's Challenge" roster.

"They kind of challenged us to do this," explains Katie, a public relations major from Columbus.

The self-imposed "rules" of the challenge were simple: at least three of the four were required to show up at Milano's at least once a day for food and/or an adult beverage. And for one day, at least, they were slightly bent. On Easter, all four were out of town. But after attending an afternoon hockey game in Chicago, Dan and Erin drove back to Dayton — bypassing all those Arby's and McDonald's along the way — and made it to Milano's just in time to keep the challenge alive.

As the consecutive streak grew, so did the group's recognition factor.

"People would stop us on campus and ask us what number day it was," said Erin, a public relations major from Milwaukee. She declines to say whether the steady diet of pizzas, subs, calzones, salads and adult beverages has had any effect on their waistlines.

But while meeting the challenge will be "our biggest memory," Dan is quick to point out that it's not the crowning achievement of their college days. Each of them, he notes, held part-time jobs and were involved in a number of campus activities. All four accumulated 3.0 or better averages. Dan and Katie are graduating with honors.

And there is one more honor to come: their photos will be hung on the walls of Milano's.

"They're a great group," said Milano's owner/operator John Slaughenhaupt. "Pretty much like family."

This morning, after they receive their diplomas, the graduates will take their other families to Milano's for lunch. On Monday, Day No. 121, the four will gather there one more time for what will be, predicts Brian, a criminal justice and sociology major from Hudson, Ohio, "an emotional day."

Then they're heading off on the traditional Dayton-to-Daytona pilgrimage. Erin and Katie are flying. Dan and Brian will be driving in an RV with some friends.

And a tray of Milano's subs.

Contact this writer at (937) 225-2439 or at dlstewart@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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