In the midst of football season, a Jacksonville family's devotion to the Jacksonville Jaguars has transformed into a heartfelt initiative that resonates beyond the gridiron. Gail Carter-Cade, an author specializing in healing and emotional resilience, has written a poem dedicated to the team, not as critique but as a gesture of unwavering support. The poem, titled "A Loss," explores the emotional aftermath of defeat, aiming to validate athletes' feelings and encourage fans to recognize the human side of sports.
Carter-Cade and her family, self-described die-hard Jaguars fans, recently attended a game in Nashville, Tennessee, where they sat near the players' exit tunnel after a tough loss. "We were rooting and hoping for them to win. Unfortunately, they didn't," she said. "Our hearts sank. We tried to get their attention to let them know we came all the way from Jacksonville to support them. Most of the players looked down or straight ahead. They wouldn't even make eye contact." This moment of perceived disconnection prompted Carter-Cade to reflect on the emotional toll that losses take on athletes, a topic she addresses in her work.
According to Psychology Today, athletes often experience deep emotional fallout after losses, including sadness, shame, anger, fear of disappointing others, self-doubt, anxiety, and loss of confidence. Carter-Cade's poem reframes loss not as failure but as feedback. "A pro doesn't avoid losses," she said. "They respond to them. What matters is the growth mindset — what they learn, how they practice, and how they show up next time." The poem, which she wrote to inspire students, professional athletes, and fans, gives voice to these invisible struggles.
"I wrote this poem to let athletes know how they feel matters — and to let fans understand the emotional toll of the game," Carter-Cade said. "In this way, we can truly uplift the pain." The poem's lines capture the rawness of defeat: "We lost the game / All I saw was a flash / Now I feel like trash / I can't take the rehash / Or the student's backlash." Yet it ends on a note of resilience: "We didn't get the result we wanted, and that's hard / We win, we lose together, and stay committed."
Carter-Cade, who has authored books and workbooks on emotional healing, including Uplifting The Pain By Fostering Growth Mindset Through Poetry Now and Uplifting The Pain of Behavioral and Learning Styles Through Poetry Now, hopes that Florida will rally behind this message — not just for the Jaguars, but for every athlete, student, and person battling silent disappointment. The poem serves as a reminder that the scoreboard does not measure character or work ethic, and that athletes are fighters long after the final whistle.
