Logan High School's colors are red and white but students lately have been sporting pink at football games to support the coach and his wife.

Wally Gnewikow told his Rangers football team Oct. 10 that his wife, Rae Ellen Gnewikow, has breast cancer. The team - and school - has responded by rallying around the La Crosse couple.

Football players added pink wristbands to their uniforms at the Oct. 16 football game against Central, while fans arrived wearing pink bandannas and shirts.

They did the same Thursday when the team played Aquinas and will continue during playoff games, students said.

"I thought this would be a nice thing to do. He's our coach. He's helped us become athletes and gave us a chance." said Jamey Wing, a junior who ordered the wristbands for the team.

The team wanted to show the Gnewikows they are behind them, Wing said. "It will give us power going into the homestretch."

Senior Taylor Johnson said others wanted to be able to support their math teacher and his family as well.

An effort quickly mounted at school to wear pink to the games, and Johnson collected money to buy the $1 bandannas and "cleaned them out" at Hobby Lobby.

"The guys came up with the idea about wristbands and we thought it would be nice for the fans to do something, too," she said.

The Gnewikows weren't aware of the students' efforts, so the show of pink at the Oct. 16 game came as a surprise. Wally found out when he walked in the locker room minutes before kick-off; Rae Ellen didn't know until after the team won.

"When I got down there (on the field), he (Wally) was so emotional, but it was not just the win," she said.

He took the band off his wrist and told her "the kids did this."

"My jaw dropped and I said, 'Oh my gosh,'" she said. "What a wonderful bunch of kids."

"It was a very special and emotional night," Wally said. "I am extremely grateful to both my players and the whole school for going out of their way to show some support."