Dan was a 3-year letterman in football and basketball at Sheffield High School from 1958-61. He was selected 2nd team All-League in basketball as a junior, All-State in his senior year, and 1st team All-League in both sports his senior season. He finished with 1,167 career points for the Wolverines. Dan attended Edinboro State College where he was the starting quarterback as a freshman and sophomore before injuring his knee. In basketball at Edinboro, Petchel was a 4-year letterman, 3-time All-State selection, and a 2nd team Small College All-American. Dan played professional football for the Philadelphia Bulldogs of the Continental League in 1966 and was on the Eagles taxi squad before being farmed to the Philadelphia Firebirds in the Atlantic Coast League.
