The Columbus Crew have announced plans to memorialize Kirk Urso and are inviting fans to pay their respects. Prior to Saturday's game against Toronto FC, a floral wreath featuring Urso's image will be placed at the feet of the Lamar Hunt statue in front of Crew Stadium.
There will also be a video tribute played in stadium before the game, followed by a moment of silence. Crew players and coaches will wear No. 15 armbands for the game, which will eventually be replaced by a patch on their shirts and a No. 15 insignia will be painted onto the pitch.
"We think these elements are a worthy tribute to a special person and member of the Crew family," Crew President and General Manager Mark McCullers said in a statement. "We are continuing to support the Urso family through these tough times, and are working with them to identify other concepts to ensure that Kirk's memory and legacy live on indefinitely."
Urso, 22, was declared dead early Sunday morning after reportedly collapsing while at a Columbus restaurant. An initial autopsy suggested he had died from natural causes.
An autopsy report of Columbus Crew rookie Kirk Urso's death did not reveal any foul play and the coroner called it "an apparent natural death," according to the Associated Press. Urso was pronounced dead on Sunday night at a Columbus hospital after he collapsed in a downtown bar and restaurant.
Although the toxicology report won't be finalized for 4-6 more weeks, Franklin County Coroner Jan Gorniak said they are leaning toward a natural death, but said they still don't have an exact cause.
Urso, 22, was in the midst of rehabbing an injury that had kept him out since May. He had opened the season as a starter after being picked in what essentially amounts to the third round of the MLS draft. The midfielder had helped lead the University of North Carolina to a national championship his senior year and had previously played for the United States U-17 team.
