After Kansas University missed an extra point and botched a field-goal attempt in a 35-14 victory over Missouri Sept. 27 at Memorial Stadium, coach Mark Mangino vowed to remedy the Jayhawks’ kicking woes.

“I should be careful about promises if I can’t keep them, but I’m going to do my very best on this one,” Mangino said Tuesday during his weekly news conference.

KU (4-1, 1-0 Big 12 Conference) spent extra time on its kicking game during its bye week, preparing for Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. game at Colorado (2-3, 0-1).

Junior Johnny Beck has missed an extra-point attempt in each of KU’s last two games, but the blame isn’t his alone. Kansas has used three different long snappers in its last three games.

Junior guard Tony Coker was held out of a 41-6 victory Sept. 20 against Jacksonville State because of an undisclosed injury, and sophomore guard Justin Henry filled in as snapper.

Beck connected on 5-of-6 PATs against JSU and missed field-goal attempts of 43 and 49 yards. Through five games, Beck is 20-of-22 on extra points and 4-of-8 on field goals.

Coker returned to the lineup against Mizzou, but sophomore linebacker Kevin Kane was used as long snapper. His low snap cost Beck a shot at a 36-yard field goal.

“We are working on a couple different things with a couple different people,” Mangino said of the snappers. “Coker is still in mix, but we’re working some other people and just taking a look at them. We haven’t made any decisions. We spent extra time on that aspect of the game last week and again yesterday. We are going to tinker around with it for a few more days until we find the right combination and what we feel most comfortable with.”

Mangino said Henry was not likely to emerge as the snapper so the backup lineman could focus on playing guard.

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Another option would be freshman Zack Hood, who Mangino had hoped would take a red-shirt this season.

“The potential to remove his red-shirt exists,” Mangino said. “If we have to do that to be better, we’ll do it.”

The same goes for freshman kicker Scott Webb.

Beck has made 4-of-5 field goals from inside 40 yards, but is 0-for-3 from long range.

‘We have to play for today,” Mangino said. “If that means taking Scott’s red-shirt off, we’ll do it. If it means taking Zack Hood’s, that’s fine. Those kids are both fine with it. They’re willing to wait until next year, but they see what’s in front of us.”

Senior holder Curtis Ansel said both freshmen were ready to contribute.

“They’ve looked real good,” Ansel said. “They’re working hard.”

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Positive publicity: The Jayhawks are garnering attention from the national media. ESPN.com has written about KU, and Mangino was a halftime guest on Fox Sports Net’s broadcast of Texas A&M’s game at Texas Tech.

“It’s definitely been fun, especially for us old guys that have been around for a while,” senior offensive lineman Danny Lewis said. “It’s been a nice change of pace. Our biggest goal is to keep it going because it’s starting to be a lot of fun right now.”

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Thin air: KU, which defeated Wyoming, 42-35, Sept. 13 at Laramie, Wyo., will be playing its second game at high altitude.

“We struggled with that a little bit,” said junior receiver Brandon Rideau. “It was easy for us to get winded, but we just have to go out there and suck it up and do what we can do. I’m sure Colorado is used to it.”

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Klatt optimistic: Colorado quarterback Joel Klatt said he would play Saturday, but coach Gary Barnett has not named a starter.

Klatt suffered a shoulder injury Sept. 13 in a 47-26 loss to Washington State and has not started CU’s last two games. He played late in last Saturday’s 42-30 loss at Baylor after his replacement — Erik Greenberg — injured his hand.

Greenberg also was expected to be ready Saturday.

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Secondary concerns: CU safety Medford Moorer (elbow) remains questionable for the KU game, but results from an MRI Monday came back negative.

Barnett said he expected the senior to play.

Freshman cornerback Terrence Wheatley (sternum) also is questionable, and Barnett said safety Brian Iwuh could miss the game for personal reasons.