Here’s one sure sign that enthusiasm is building around Kansas University football.

“People are donating money,” KU coach Mark Mangino quipped Tuesday at his weekly news conference. “That’s a good sign isn’t it, when people call you and tell you they’ve got a check for football? Our staff can’t keep up with the e-mails coming in, well-wishers, people excited. Everybody can’t field all the calls. You can sense it.”

Fans haven’t been limiting their love for the resurgent Jayhawks to the football office.

“When I drive to work in the morning, people actually wave to me,” Mangino said.

Uh, what kind of reaction did you used to get, coach?

“‘That’s the football coach, huh?'” Mangino said. “‘Poor guy.’ Then they’d keep going. Things have changed a little bit.”

No kidding.

For the first time since 1996, KU has scored 40 or more points in three straight games. The nation’s fourth-ranked offense has helped Kansas (3-1) put together its first three-game winning streak since 1997.

The Jayhawks will try to make it four in a row at 11:40 a.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium against No. 23 Missouri (4-0).

“I have felt enthusiasm internally with our players, coaches and people in the inner circle,” Mangino said. “I feel enthusiasm with the loyal fans who sat in the rain during the Northwestern game and who come out to all of the home games. I think it has stepped up a notch, and the campus is buzzing as a whole about the game.

“The community, alumni, and our supporters are excited about it. It has moved into a new level of excitement.”

The coach hopes the growing support helps his team against MIzzou.

“When you win everything is different around you,” he said. “The campus surroundings are different, and people react to you differently.

“That’s the nature of athletics in our society. Everybody likes a winner, and when you lose people don’t pay much attention to you. … Our kids are enjoying the atmosphere, and they don’t want to disappoint the student body or the fans on Saturday.”

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In demand: Kansas had sold about 43,000 tickets for Saturday’s game as of Tuesday afternoon.

That number was expected to rise quickly because Kansas and Missouri will meet with winning records for the first time since 1997 and just the third time in the last 22 years.

“If somebody wants to come to the game, they better get here by Thursday or they might be out of luck,” said KU associate athletic director Jim Marchiony.

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Players of the week: Junior safety Tony Stubbs was named KU’s defensive player of the week after making four tackles, returning an interception 28 yards and breaking up another pass in last Saturday’s 41-6 victory against Jacksonville State. Freshman lineman Bob Whitaker and senior Bill Whittemore shared offensive honors, and freshman Jon Cornish was special teams player of the week. Scout team players of the week were Kyle Knighton and Matt Patterson.

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Beck’s slump: Sophomore Johnny Beck has missed three straight field-goal attempts — all 43 yards or longer — in the last two games after making all four of his attempts against UNLV.

“I am not concerned about him,” Mangino said. “For once, I would say that he has had some misfortune. We had to use our backup long snapper last week, and the ball didn’t get back just right and a few of them were knuckleballs that Curtis Ansel could not get down. I’m the first to tell Johnny to keep quiet about complaints, but I won’t blame that all on Johnny because he wasn’t served well this past week with the operation on the deep snap and hold.”

Starting right guard and long snapper Tony Coker sat out last Saturday’s game because of an undisclosed injury, but the junior was expected to play against MU.

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More injury notes: Mangino said freshman safety Jonathan Lamb, who played sparingly against JSU, would “definitely play” Saturday.

Another freshman, Moderick Johnson, left last week’s game holding his right arm in the fourth quarter. Johnson had one catch for eight yards and blocked a field goal.

“He’s just banged up a little bit but shows no signs of any problems,” Mangino said.

Junior tight end Lyonel Anderson was “day-to-day” with an unspecified injury.

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Fam fan: Mangino will be among the notable guests Thursday night when former coach Don Fambrough is honored during a benefit for the Bert Nash Center at the Holidome.

Fambrough, who coached KU from 1971-74 and again from 1979-82, is a regular at Kansas practices.

“I like having him out there,” Mangino said. “I feel good when I see him out there. It’s nice to know that he’s out there win or lose, rain or shine. He’s not there because he wants to tell people what to do or because he thinks he can do it better. He’s there because he loves the University of Kansas, and he loves KU football and everyone associated with it.”

Speakers at Thursday night’s event include former Jayhawks John Hadl, David Jaynes, David Lawrence, Gale Sayers and former coach Jack Mitchell. For more information, call 830-1795.

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On the air: Saturday’s game will be televised by FoxSportsNet. The network also will air a 30-minute preview at 8 p.m. Friday.