Barack Obama at Army-Navy Game: Who's the Commander-in-Chief Rooting For?

With two service academies going head-to-head in the annual Army-Navy Game, who is the Commander-in-Chief rooting for? As the leader of both forces, which would he rather see win?

While I'm fairly big on political debates and have strong opinions regarding our President, I keep those discussions out of my football stories. They're not relevant, and frankly, they disrupt the discussions that should be taking place on a college football article.

This is no different, really. Yet, in a way, it is. When a political figure attends a football game where he is the CEO (so to speak) of both organizations, it has a political flare that can't be completely ignored.

Our Commander-in-Chief has never served in his country's military.

When John F. Kennedy took in the Army-Navy Game, there was little doubt he wanted the Naval Academy to win. After all, he was a Navy veteran.

When Dwight Eisenhower watched as a former general of the army, there's little question that he wanted the Black Knights to take home the victory in the name of the branch he had served in.

What about Barack Obama?

He's never worn the uniform. He doesn't speak the lingo. He hasn't spent time on a battleship or trudging through the mud with an assault rifle slung over his shoulder.

Does it matter?

In the grand scheme of life—not one ounce. Our country has had several Presidents who have never served in the military.

As far as the football game goes, it's intriguing to wonder if he has a preference.

The President will spend the first half of the game on Navy's side and will spend the second half of the game on Army's side. Effectively, he's splitting his allegiance, as it should probably be.

Both institutions are worthy. Both branches of the military are steeped in history and tradition and have combined to help create one of the most dangerous and effective militaries  in the world.

The members of these academies are among the brightest and bravest our country has to offer.

Publicly, the President will honor both with his presence on their side of the field. Privately, though, I can't help wonder who he's rooting for to win the game.