Alumni Association

Alumni Association membership connects alumni to Penn State football

Penn State welcomed 110,747 fans to Beaver Stadium for the 2023 season opener against West Virginia, marking the fourth-largest crowd in its history and the most since Sept. 29, 2018, against Ohio State (110,889). Credit: Steve Manuel/Penn State Alumni Association All Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Membership in the Penn State Alumni Association can help you show and share your Penn State pride this football season.

Here’s how you can get involved, cheer on the Nittany Lions, and stay updated on everything happening this fall, both on and off the field. Bookmark alumni.psu.edu/gameday for the latest information throughout the season.

The Football Letter

Available exclusively to Alumni Association members, the weekly Football Letter email brings you the compelling world of Penn State football from an alumni perspective. From team arrival to postgame interviews, the Football Letter captures the game-day experience in Happy Valley and brings you up close with the players and coaches, through captivating videos, photos and social media coverage.

Visit the Football Letter homepage for all the details on how you can stay connected with our coverage, including receiving the postgame Football Letter email as a benefit of membership. Alumni and fans also can stay updated by reading our game-day email and following The Football Letter on X.

Football Letter podcast

Weekly episodes will feature conversations with inspiring lettermen and with volunteer leaders who bring the Alumni Association's mission to life. Also, select episodes will include historic insight from Football Letter Editor Emeritus John Black, class of 1962 (editor from 1976 to 2021), drawing on his time covering Penn State football.

The audio version of the episodes are available on the Alumni Association's podcasts page and the video versions on the show's YouTube playlist.

Roar Tour

The Alumni Association will host the premier pregame event at away football games, featuring the Penn State cheerleaders, the Nittany Lion and special guests, along with enhanced, family-friendly games, Penn State Bakery cookies and more. There is no cost to attend, although registration is required.

Sign up today for this year’s Roar Tour at Northwestern (Sept. 30), Ohio State (Oct. 21) and Maryland (Nov. 4).

Follow the Alumni Association on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for on-site coverage throughout the season.

Away game mixers

The night before away games, the Alumni Association partners with a local alumni chapter to welcome alumni and fans for an evening of Penn State camaraderie. Often, the night features performances from the Penn State cheerleaders, Nittany Lion and Pep Band (comprising members of the Blue Band). Having the band and cheerleaders on-site is always a highlight for local and traveling alumni and fans, with the Alumni Association funding the travel expenses for the Pep Band. Away Game Mixers are set for: Northwestern (Sept. 29), Ohio State (Oct. 20) and Maryland (Nov. 3).

Full registration and event details for these alumni mixers will be listed at alumni.psu.edu/gameday.

Alumni chapter watch parties

With more than 100 alumni chapters across the country and beyond, there’s always a group of Penn Staters ready to add you to their cheering squad. Alumni Association membership now includes access to all chapters, without additional fees or chapter dues. Many chapter listings include the chapter’s website, social media pages, and contact information.

S-Zone and shakers

The S-Zone has been an iconic element of Penn State’s student section since its first appearance during the 1998 football season. During every home football game, the Alumni Association’s student organizations — the Lion Ambassadors and the Blue & White Society — organize and lead a cheering section of 800 students, coordinating a special T-shirt to create an “S” that is visible from any part in or above the stadium. What originated as students holding color-coordinated card blocks to create the famed "S" in 1998 rapidly evolved through the leadership and stewardship of the Alumni Association and Lion Ambassadors to become the beloved part of the Beaver Stadium experience that it is today. You can see both the S-Zone and shakers in action during the 2022 home game against Ohio State. Learn more about the S-Zone here.

Last Updated September 19, 2023