This fall, Kansas University football players will devote Saturdays to rebuilding a program that hasn’t had a winning season since 1995.

Saturday at 1829 Atherton Court, the Jayhawks were busy with an entirely different type of building project.

About 20 players and assistant coach Pat Henderson volunteered to spend the day hanging drywall for Habitat for Humanity.

“It’s just great having all these guys come out here and giving up a Saturday for us,” Habitat for Humanity program manager Linda Klinker said. “It seems like we always have the football team on days when we need some muscle. This was a good day for them to be here.”

Klinker had no problem getting KU football players to help out a few years ago when her husband, Walt, was the Jayhawks’ offensive line coach. But Klinker lost his job — as did most of coach Terry Allen’s staff — and moved on to Southwest Missouri State.

Habitat for Humanity draws volunteers from local churches, businesses and KU student groups, but the organization had lost its tie to the football team.

“These guys set this up all on their own. They called us,” said Linda Klinker, who still is married to Walt though they live three hours apart.

Henderson, a former KU player, will coach running backs in the fall, but one of his offseason duties was to find volunteer projects for the Jayhawks.

He was pleased with Saturday’s turnout.

Kansas University assistant football coach Pat Henderson, left, quarterback Bill Whittemore, center, and defensive lineman Travis Watkins install drywall on a Habitat for Humanity home. About 20 Jayhawks worked on the home Saturday at 1829 Atherton Court.

“It’s really unusual for summer, considering how hard they work,” Henderson said of the players, who participate in a summer conditioning program four days a week in addition to seven-on-seven drills.

The Jayhawks’ other offseason projects included helping at a fund-raiser for Lawrence Memorial Hospital, visiting the pediatric ward at LMH, volunteering at Cordley Elementary School’s field day and preparing and serving lunch at Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen.

“I was looking for something where we could really contribute,” Henderson said. “It’s a good cause. We want to be involved in the community, and Habitat for Humanity builds houses in your community. It seemed like a natural.”

Players were given brief instructions before they started hammering early Saturday morning. Punter Walker Douglas, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound freshman from Free State High, said hanging drywall wasn’t hard for the athletes.

“It’s nothing compared to what we have to push around in the weight room,” he said. “It’s pretty easy. Everybody has caught on pretty quickly.”

Douglas has a summer job with Highland Construction, but he said people who wanted to volunteer shouldn’t be scared if they lacked experience.

“This is something anybody can do,” he said. “It’s just getting out here and putting forth the labor and lending a helping hand.”

Henderson said some players — such as red-shirt freshman David Ochoa — signed up for every project he posted.

“It’s fun,” said Ochoa, an offensive lineman from Houston. “You know you’re doing something good for somebody else.”

In this case, that somebody else was Debi Ambrose. The 24-year-old hairstylist will move into the three-bedroom house with her two sons after the dedication and open house Aug. 24.

“I’ve got walls,” Ambrose said over the din of construction, “so I’m happy.”

The house will be Habitat for Humanity’s 50th in Lawrence and 11th in Ambrose’s new neighborhood. Habitat for Humanity started with 14 lots in the neighborhood about two years ago and has three remaining.

Ambrose also had help Saturday from some of her neighbors. Before Habitat for Humanity begins building a house, a prospective owner must volunteer to work 50 hours on another Habitat house.

“That way we know you’re serious,” Klinker said.

Homeowners must spend at least 150 hours per adult on their own houses and then devote 25 more hours to another Habitat house.

With donated labor and some donated supplies, Ambrose’s house will be valued about $100,000, but will cost only about $55,000.

If Ambrose wasn’t a big Kansas football fan before Saturday, she is now.

“My family is very into KU sports,” she said. “My grandma has season tickets, so I usually go to a few games. I’ll definitely go to more this year.”

For more information about Habitat for Humanity, call 832-0777 or go to lawrencehabitat.org.