GREENSBORO, Ga. — Boston College senior Ryan Purvis knew the first question before it was asked at the ACC Kickoff.
"What's life like without Matt Ryan?" Purvis said, beating the media to the punch.
Purvis, an All-ACC tight end, expects a smooth transition to senior Chris Crane, even if Crane doesn't match Ryan's outlandish numbers — 4,507 yards and 31 touchdowns.
"We have to move on," said Purvis, who had 54 catches in 2007. "That's the way it is."
The Eagles won the Atlantic Division in 2007 and matched a school record with 11 wins. Ryan, the third overall pick in the NFL Draft, isn't the only missing piece. Running backs Andre Callender and L.V. Whitworth are gone, as are defensive leaders DeJuan Tribble and Jamie Silva.
Purvis doesn't expect high expectations from the media.
"We've always have something to prove," Purvis said. "This year is no different. I can see where the predictions are coming from, losing a backfield like that, but we've always had the mentality that BC is perceived as underrated."
