<p>No offense, but in my opinion the term “lower ivies” is non-sensical. Also, when considering sports, varsity and intramural athletics are a significant part of campus life at more than one Ivy League campus; particurlarly at Harvard. 50,000 (not all of them students) people may attend a football game 5 saturdays a year at other campuses, but sports participation at Ivy school is typically much more prevelent (broad).</p>