The Army-Navy Game is a classic rivalry and, for service members, one of the most important football games of the year. For eight years, I was an active duty Sailor and proudly proclaimed, “Go Navy! Beat Army!”

Last year, I left the Navy and accepted a position at Fort Gordon as an Department of the Army civilian. Needless to say, my loyalty is divided. In order to work through my conflicted emotions, I offer you my analysis of the 2009 game, played Dec. 12 in Philadelphia.

-Navy wins the coin toss. We’re off to a good start. Or are we? Wait…who am I rooting for again? I’m so confused. I need a drink.

-Fort Hood just blew up a stuffed Navy Goat with a tank. Overkill? Just a little bit.

-First turnover. Navy had to punt and it’s still 0-0 with 10:58 left in the 1st quarter. I hope this isn’t a slow game.

-Army tries for a field goal, and it’s no good. Still no score and Navy has possession with 7:05 left in the first.

-First down Navy with a 16-yard run! Ok, I think I know which team I’ll be rooting for.

-Never mind. Navy punts for 16 yards. Army has the ball right where we left off with 3:55 left in the 1st quarter. Now I’m just bored.

-Five-yard penalty against Army. It’s the most exciting thing that’s happened so far.

-Another incomplete pass. Now I really want that drink.

-Ooh, another flag, but the penalty’s declined. And now, we’re punting again. Can’t you feel the excitement?

-Army intercepts! Something’s finally happening! Whoo! Go Army! Wow, I’m indecisive!

-Field goal! Army leads 3-0 at the end of the 1st Quarter!

-Close of 1st Quarter fact: Last, year, Navy beat Army 34-0. It was the first shut out in 30 and the 7th consecutive win for Navy.

-Three minutes into the 2nd Quarter and absolutely nothing worth mentioning has happened. Fortunately, I finally got my drink.

-Not to be outdone by the previous tank attack, the Navy Seals just ambushed an Army player at the goal line. So far, these Spirit messages are the most entertaining part of the game.

-Hey! Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Foley, Fort Gordon commanding general and commandant of the U.S. Army Signal Center for Excellence, just did a “Go Army, beat Navy promo! I work for that guy! Go Army! (I know what side my bread is buttered on)

-Fifty-eight yard run for the Navy, and there’s a penalty flag! No! Army calls a time-out. No idea what the flag was for.

-Back from the break and it’s holding. The gain is lost and the Navy is back on their own 25.

-Another flag! But this penalty is declined. Fourth down and the Navy’s punting again. Army has possession with 8:28 left in the 1st half.

-Army punts, Navy has the ball and I’m having another drink. Just over six minutes left in the half.

-Another great pass from the Navy and another flag on the play. Tenyard penalty. This is getting ridiculous.

-That’s half-time. Army leads 3-0.

-Close of 2nd Quarter Fact: The first Army-Navy game was played in 1890. The record stands at 53 wins for Navy, 49 for Army and seven ties. In the 119 years since the first match up, there have only been 10 years without games.

-Second half is underway. Here’s hoping it’s a bit more exciting.

-I have to give it up to Army’s defense. They’re doing a great job of keeping Navy from moving forward. Of course, Navy’s not doing themselves any favors what with all the penalties.

-Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is coming on tonight! I know it doesn’t have anything to do with the Army-Navy game, but so far, that commercial was more entertaining than most of what I’ve watched this afternoon.

-TOUCH DOWN NAVY! THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT!

-Extra point is good. Navy leads Army 7-3 with 8:55 left in the 3rd Quarter.

-Hah! The latest Spirit Message has a Sailor in a Mustang making a Soldier in a SmartCar cry! This one was from Naval Station Mayport, in my hometown of Jacksonville, Fla.

-First down Navy. I don’t know what changed during half-time, but their offense is on point. We got ourselves a game.

-Another penalty flag, but this one’s on Army. Seriously, what’s going on here?

-Both teams now have injured players. Something to think about: for most college athletes, an injury can potentially ruin the chance to go pro. For Academy students, it could potentially ruin a military career. Is the game really that important if it could cost us future Soldiers, Sailors or Marines?

-Navy makes a 36-yard field goal attempt and it’s good. The 3rd Quarter concludes with Navy leading 10-3.

-Close of 3rd Quarter Fact: In both the 1944 and 1945 contests, Army and Navy entered the game ranked first and second respectively. The 1945 game was labeled the “game of the century” before it was played. Army defeated a 7-0-1 Navy team 32-13. Navy’s lone tie was against Notre Dame.

-Great play by Army. They fumbled the pass, but fell on it before the Navy could intercept.

-Fourth and three, Army. Field goal attempt and it’s no good. Navy still leads 10-3 with 10 minutes to play.

-Army fumbles and Navy recovers running it to the 11-Yard Line. Is it too soon to declare this game over?

-Ouch. Another Army cadet down. That makes three players out of the game. I won’t harp about injuries again, but I can’t help thinking about it.

-Touch down Navy! And the extra point is good. Navy leads 17-3 with 6:20 left on the clock.

-Wow. Just when it looks like Army’s about to score, Navy intercepts in the end zone. That’s just painful. I think that pretty much it for Army.

-Two minute warning and Navy still leads 17-3.

-And that’s the ball game. Navy wins 17-3.

Good game. A slow first half, but the second more than made up for it. So what have we learned? From her Direct TV commercial that aired every single break, we’ve seen that Christina Aguilera is hot. Wait, we already knew that. Beer makes a football game more entertaining? No, everybody knows that. Seriously, though, it’s important to remember that while these inter-service rivalries are fun, we’re all on the same side. Whether Soldier, Sailor, Marine or Airman, we all serve our country proudly and faithfully.

As for my loyalties, well, as I’ve already said, at the end of the day, we’re all on the same team. Still, in the immortal words of Looking Glass, “My life, my love and my lady is the sea.”

Go Navy!