Jacksonville author Gail Carter-Cade has written a poem dedicated to the Jacksonville Jaguars that focuses on emotional support rather than criticism, highlighting the often-overlooked psychological impact of athletic losses. The poem emerged from Carter-Cade's personal experience as a dedicated fan who traveled to an away game in Nashville, Tennessee, where she observed players' emotional withdrawal after a defeat.
"We tried to get their attention to let them know we came all the way from Jacksonville to support them," Carter-Cade said. "Most of the players looked down or straight ahead. They wouldn't even make eye contact." Rather than interpreting this as rejection, Carter-Cade recognized it as evidence of emotional pain. "After a loss, athletes don't just feel physical pain. They feel grief," she explained.
This observation aligns with psychological research on athletic performance. 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 addresses these invisible struggles by reframing loss not as failure but as feedback for growth.
"A pro doesn't avoid losses," Carter-Cade said. "They respond to them. What matters is the growth mindset — what they learn, how they practice, and how they show up next time." Her poem, which includes lines like "We didn't win the game/But next time we will reclaim," emphasizes resilience and collective commitment over immediate results.
The initiative connects to Carter-Cade's broader work as an author specializing in healing and emotional resilience. She has published related materials, including the workbook Uplifting The Pain By Fostering Growth Mindset Through Poetry Now available on Amazon, and the book Uplifting The Pain of Behavioral and Learning Styles Through Poetry Now available at Barnes & Noble.
Carter-Cade hopes the message extends beyond football to benefit all athletes, students, and individuals facing disappointment. "I wrote this poem to let athletes know how they feel matters — and to let fans understand the emotional toll of the game," she said. "In this way, we can truly uplift the pain." This approach represents a shift in fan culture toward greater emotional awareness and support, potentially influencing how communities engage with sports teams and address mental health in competitive environments.
