A football game is a football game, and a basketball game is a basketball game. But aside from the simple enjoyment of Huskie spirit, Greeks have another reason to attend NIU sporting events.

The Greek Cup, a competition to have the highest percentage of members from a house to attend NIU games, currently is underway.

Fraternities and sororities compete against each other to get members to attend certain sporting events. At the end of the season in March, the house with the highest percentage of attendance wins.

“The event is designed to get people involved with sporting events,” Greek Activities Adviser Chris Juhl said.

The Greek Cup events began with a volleyball game in November and will continue through March with basketball, wrestling and gymnastic events, with a formal announcement of the winner at the first home football game next semester.

The winning chapter will receive a traveling trophy for the house to be on display at the Campus Life Building throughout the following year until the next house wins.

Tau Kappa Epsilon won the cup last year, which president Sean O’Connor, also a Northern Star co-design manager, described as exciting and somewhat unexpected.

“We had no idea we’d win in the beginning,” O’Connor said. “But by the spring, we started to notice that we were at more of the events.”

As for the race for participation this year, O’Connor is confident.

“I think we’re pretty solid in the running for this year’s cup,” O’Connor said.

Chapter members receive credit for their attendance by checking in at Greek Cup tables near the entrance of the events. Bonus points also will be awarded to groups that convey exceptional sportsmanship or spirit. However, points can be taken away if a team displays bad sportsmanship.

The cup was set up by the athletics department two years ago as a contest to encourage Greeks to participate in the games, Juhl said.