Penn State football unites Nittany Lions everywhere, attracting capacity crowds of 107,000-plus Penn Staters to Happy Valley and prompting Penn State Alumni Association chapters all over the world to host watch parties each game day in the fall.

Your membership in the Alumni Association can help you show and share your Penn State Pride this season, too. 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. In addition to the info below, bookmark alumni.psu.edu/gameday for the latest info 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 post-game 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 home page 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 can also stay updated by reading our game-day email and following The Football Letter on X (Twitter).

Football Letter Podcast 

For the 2023 season, our live Football Letter Live webcast will transition to The Football Letter Podcast. Hosted by Football Letter Editor John Patishnock Jr. ’05, episodes will be released weekly during the season. Each week 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 ’62 (1976–2021), drawing on his time covering Penn State football. More details will be available as the season nears. 

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, though registration is required. 

Sign up today for this year’s Roar Tour at Illinois (Sept. 16), Northwestern (Sept. 30), Ohio State (Oct. 21), and Maryland (Nov. 4). Please note: Because Penn State plays Michigan State the day after Thanksgiving (Friday, Nov. 25, at Ford Field), there will not be a Roar Tour stop at this game. 
 
Follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram for our onsite 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 onsite 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: Illinois (Sept. 15), 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 our chapters, without additional fees or chapter dues. Many chapter listings include the chapter’s website, social media pages, and contact info. 

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” which 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 in our photo gallery from the 2022 home game against Ohio State, and learn more about the S-Zone here.