Kosta Karageorge funeral takes place

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Under a cold, gray sky Wednesday, hundreds of mourners turned out for the funeral of 22-year-old Kosta Karageorge, the Ohio State athlete who died of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound after telling his parents that concussions were affecting his mind.

Grief was visible on the faces of Ohio State football players, wrestlers and coaches as they left The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral with teary eyes.

Karageorge was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head on Sunday. He had been missing since Nov. 26. Karageorge's mother told police he'd had several concussions and a few spells of extreme confusion. A coroner says a special examination will look for signs of traumatic brain injury related to concussions.

"Unbelievable, huh?" said a man who passed a father and son in line at the church. At the front entrance, Karageorge's athletic trophies and a plaque lay on a table, and photos of him in various stages of a young life hung on easels. There was a picture of him as a chubby kid in a bow tie and suspenders and one as a giant, muscular man with a motorcycle.

There was a photo of him in his Ohio State football uniform. Numerous pictures captured him doing two things he apparently enjoyed: hugging his family and flexing his muscles.

Karageorge joined the football team this season as a walk-on. He also was on the wrestling team for three years.

Father Demetrios Gardikes told mourners that Karageorge went by his middle name, Alex, early in his life but that around junior high he decided to be called Kosta to honor his grandfather, Kostadinos. Gardikes spoke of Karageorge's perseverance and enthusiasm and noted that before football practice he would often yell, "Yeah, baby!"

"He took advantage of so many opportunities presented to him," Gardikes told the crowd. "He was one that was just full of life and love. That's why you're all here today. And some things just don't add up. They don't make sense. Remember the respect, the honor and the love that brought you here today, and remember the joy. Remember the joy."

Information from ESPN.com senior writer Elizabeth Merrill and The Associated Press is included in this report.