UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Alumni Association connected thousands of alumni and friends in Los Angeles this past weekend (Oct. 11-13), during an organized Penn State football fan tour that featured Alumni Association CEO Paul Clifford, Alumni Association President Anand Ganjam, and football letterman Adam Taliaferro. 

About 50 Penn Staters traveled on the official USC Fan Tour organized by the Alumni Association and its official travel sponsor, Sports and Entertainment Travel. Penn Staters on the tour stayed in downtown Los Angeles, received a commemorative lanyard and credential, and enjoyed several more perks, including game day transportation to and from Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.  

At the welcome event Friday evening at Tom’s Watch Bar in LA Live, Clifford, a 2020 Penn State graduate of the College of Education, welcomed alumni and friends, introducing Taliaferro and the Pep Band and Spirit Squad, which performed for about 15 minutes.  

Penn Staters occupied the entire first level of the venue, where they enjoyed an appetizer buffet, an open bar featuring beer and wine, and performances by the Penn State Pep Band and Spirit Squad, while wall-to-wall digital boards displayed Penn State football highlights.  

Along with greeting Penn Staters on Friday night, Clifford emceed the Roar Tour, the Alumni Association-hosted pregame pep rally that’s the premier event at away football games. Approximately 1,400 Penn State alumni and friends attended the Roar Tour, held near the stadium at the Exposition Park Rose Garden.  

"It was incredible to see Penn State alumni show up in force for our first-ever conference game in California,” Clifford said. “The energy and support they brought to the events and the game was a powerful reminder of the strength of our alumni network. No matter where we are, our Penn State family is always there to cheer each other on. Connecting alumni on the West Coast truly showed the impact and reach of our community, and when it was all said and done after we claimed victory, you could see the appreciation of our Gridiron Lions." 

Each Roar Tour event features the Penn State Pep Band and Spirit Squad, comprised of the Penn State Cheerleaders, Nittany Lion, and Lionettes Dance Team. Alumni Association members who attend receive a commemorative lanyard with this year’s football roster, and Penn State Bakery cookies are available for everyone. Wyndham Hotels and Resorts is the presenting sponsor of the Roar Tour. 

At the Roar Tour, Ganjam fired up the massive crowd and emphasized the importance of both their presence and their support. Ganjam, a 2015 graduate of the Smeal College of Business, is a regular presence at Alumni Association events, has hosted an Alumni Association trip to Switzerland, and is a longtime Penn State volunteer. He originally joined the association’s Alumni Council while a student.  

In an interview with Clifford, Ganjam discussed what motivates him to volunteer. “We have the world’s greatest and largest alumni association, the most powerful alumni network in the world,” he said, “and to be able to travel across the country, to be able to see Penn Staters at their finest moments, celebrating their achievements, and supporting them as they come together on the field in athletics, it’s just a huge honor.” 

Ganjam discussed his leadership position with Clifford, saying it’s “the honor of a lifetime” to serve in his role as president. The interview, along with Roar Tour highlights, can be accessed on the Alumni Association’s YouTube channel. Additionally, photos from both events are available online.  

Taliaferro was a constant presence during the weekend stay in Los Angeles, mingling with alumni, taking photos, sharing stories, and generally boosting the overall atmosphere at the events and hotel. He greeted the crowd at both the welcome event and Roar Tour, and also spoke with Clifford between band and cheer performances at the pep rally. 

Taliaferro is a 2005 Penn State graduate who has become one of the most inspiring student-athletes in the history of Penn State. Told he wouldn’t walk again after suffering a paralyzing spinal cord injury at Ohio State five games into his freshman season, Taliaferro completed extensive physical therapy and led the team onto the field at Beaver Stadium for the home opener the following year. At one point during that moment 23 years ago, Taliaferro even jogged. 

The letterman cornerback hosted the fan tour and told Penn Staters at the welcome event Friday evening that was the only time in his life that he’s jogged since the injury, a heroic achievement that he said was the result of the Penn State community’s enduring support. Today, Taliaferro holds a senior position with Johnson & Johnson. 

“Every connection, every positive thing that’s happened in my life, there’s some Penn State connection associated with it,” Taliaferro said. “I’m truly humbled to be a part of this wonderful family.” 

Penn Staters wanting to join in the fun can attend the Wisconsin Roar Tour, set for Saturday, Oct. 26. Doors will open for the event at 3:30 p.m. CT, three hours before kickoff. Announced Monday, Oct. 14, the game against the Badgers will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT. The night before, the Alumni Association and its Madison Chapter are partnering to host a welcome event at the Fluno Center in downtown Madison. 

Penn Staters can learn more about how they can cheer on the Nittany Lions on and off the field on the Alumni Association’s game day page.