Senior finance major Mike Love got on top of things yesterday afternoon as he signed up for intramural flag football.

“I do it ’cause I’m Greek,” said Love. “I have a good time and always have fun playing. I have participated in flag football, volleyball, softball, floor hockey and indoor soccer.”

Flag football is the most popular intramural sport the Office of Campus Recreation has to offer, said Brad Wilson, a graduate assistant for intramural sports. As of 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, 45 teams already had signed up for a spot in the league. The sign-ups started Tuesday and continue today from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m.

In the winter, students can enter floor hockey leagues and 3-on-3 basketball leagues, the winter’s most popular attraction. Other sports available are racquetball, tennis, indoor soccer,

volleyball and softball.

Intramural sports are becoming more popular, not only here at NIU, but nationwide. Students like the leagues because they are a way of competing against others as part of a team.

“They are becoming huge,” said Wilson. “I’ve been in this business six years, and as a whole it has grown with experience.”

“We are even getting EastBay.com and Uncle Ben’s Rice to sponsor our flag football league this year. The biggest reason for more involvement though, seems to be that people just want to go out and have fun playing with friends.”

Increased interest for the sport can easily be seen. Last year it took two days to fill all the spots for the football league, but this year it is expected to fill up in one.

Prices for these leagues are another reason why students like them. For flag football, basketball and softball, prices are $30 per team, while tennis is $5 dollars for singles play and $10 for doubles play. The money goes toward paying the officials, organizing the leagues and reserving gym space.

Students should follow in Love’s footsteps and sign up for a league, because there is bound to be a sport for everyone to enjoy.

“I always look forward to playing volleyball,” said Love. “I’ve played it the longest and enjoy it the most.”

Anyone interested in signing up for a league should go to the Campus Recreation Center and look in the lobby at the sports that are available. Also, students can call Brad Wilson at 753-9389.