"If just one person had said no, then I wouldn't have been able to play," Panichelli said. "I completely understood that. The players had put in a lot of work and sweat into the team since mid-August and before then."
Why didn't Panichelli pull the trigger on playing football sooner?
"I just had so much going on with lacrosse," he said. "It was in the back of my head, but I never seriously considered playing."
The 17-year-old played youth football for the Little American Football Association (LAFA) at Kelly Field in West Chester. He was a wingback and safety for Henderson's freshman team.
Panichelli's first practice with Shanahan was on Wednesday. On Saturday, the 6-foot-2, 165-pounder was in uniform, wearing a No. 86 jersey, and playing cornerback for the Eagles against Ches-Mont League National Conference rival Coatesville.
"I had never played cornerback in my life," he said. "It was a little different for me. I just tried to soak in whatever the coaches were teaching me. Also, I watched a lot of game tape to pick up some things."
Panichelli's first assignment? He was matched against Coatesville's Kyle Kerrick, a 6-3, 185-pound wideout who has committed to Michigan State. Yikes!
"I heard all week about him and what he could do on the field," Panichelli said. "I knew he was legit. He's going to play football at Michigan State. That alone says a lot. It's a big accomplishment."
Early on, the athletic Kerrick beat Panichelli for an 18-yard touchdown catch. "I should have forced him to the inside," he said. "After that happened, I knew I had to step it up and play better. From there, I think I did OK."
Kerrick finished with three receptions for 50 yards in the Red Raiders' 42-21 win. "For his first time out there, Chris did a terrific job," Meyers said. "He's real smart. You can teach him something in a second."
