That got me thinking, so on a slow Saturday I asked a different AI assistant to name the top 10 football players in Dartmouth history. Given that in the early days of AI I saw my own name come up in response to a similar query and it referenced my days playing for the New York Giants (which obviously wan't true), I wasn't terribly optimistic. I didn't expect that kind of "hallucination" again, but decided to give it a shot.
Here's what AI returned and I have to admit it's pretty good. Agree or disagree about the selections, the AI does a solid job building its list and defending its choices.
If you read this down and think it's scary, here's something that's much scarier. All I asked for was a list of names. It could have taken me the better part of an hour to build a list like this, research pertinent supporting evidence, and write the story.
The AI assistant did it in 30 seconds – without my usual tpyos. (I did that on purpose ;-)
With that out of the way, here's what the computer spat out, verbatim:
Here are the top 10 players in Dartmouth football history, ranked by their sheer impact on the program and their success beyond Hanover:1. Reggie Williams (Linebacker, Class of 1976)The undisputed king of Dartmouth football. Williams was a relentless, ferocious three-time First-Team All-Ivy selection who anchored three straight Ivy League championship teams (1973–1975). He became a First-Team All-American in 1975 and went on to a stellar 14-year NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals, playing in two Super Bowls and earning the 1986 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007.2. Ed Healey (Tackle, Class of 1918)Healey is Dartmouth’s only representative in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a dominant, bruising two-way lineman before and after World War I. He went pro in the NFL's infancy, eventually playing for George Halas and the Chicago Bears from 1922 to 1927, where Halas famously called him "the most versatile tackle I ever saw." He is also enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.3. Bob MacLeod (Halfback, Class of 1939)MacLeod was a consensus All-American in 1938 and finished 4th in the Heisman Trophy voting that same year. An incredibly explosive, tough-as-nails back, he was widely considered the best pure football player in the country during his senior season. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round (No. 5 overall) in 1939 and entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 1977.4. Nick Lowery (Kicker, Class of 1978)While kickers don't always get historical love, "Nick the Kick" is a Dartmouth icon and an NFL legend. After a strong career in Hanover, Lowery went on to become a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro with the Kansas City Chiefs. When he retired, he held the NFL record for the highest field goal percentage (84.4%) and the most field goals over 50 yards.5. Andrew "Swede" Oberlander (Halfback, Class of 1926)The engine behind Dartmouth's legendary 1925 team, which went 8-0 and was widely acclaimed as the National Champion. Oberlander was a powerhouse halfback and an elite passer for his era. In a single legendary game against Cornell in 1925, he accounted for 477 yards of total offense and threw 6 touchdowns—a performance that stood as a national record for decades. He was a consensus All-American and a 1954 College Football Hall of Fame inductee.6. Jay Fiedler (Quarterback, Class of 1994)Fiedler is arguably the greatest modern quarterback to wear the green and white. He set multiple school passing records, throwing for 6,613 yards and 58 touchdowns, and earned First-Team All-Ivy honors. He defied the odds as an undrafted free agent, carving out a highly successful 10-year NFL career, most notably starting for the Miami Dolphins in the early 2000s, where he led them to multiple playoff appearances.7. Murry Bowden (Defensive Back / Rover, Class of 1971)Bowden was the emotional leader and captain of Dartmouth’s unforgettable, undefeated 1970 team. Operating as a hybrid "rover" safety, he helped the defense shut out six of their nine opponents, giving up just 42 total points all year en route to an Ivy title and the Lambert Trophy. A consensus All-American, he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003.8. Myles Lane (Halfback, Class of 1928)Lane was an absolute athletic marvel. Playing alongside Oberlander on the 1925 National Championship squad, Lane went on to score a staggering 307 points from 1925 to 1927, cementing himself as Dartmouth's all-time leading scorer for generations. He was a dual-sport star who is also enshrined in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame and went on to win a Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins before serving as a justice on the New York Supreme Court.9. William "Air Mail" Morton (Quarterback, Class of 1932)Morton earned his nickname because of his revolutionary deep-passing ability in the early 1930s. He was a spectacular multi-threat quarterback who earned All-American honors in 1931, leading Dartmouth through a golden era of Eastern football. Like Lane, he was also a spectacular hockey player (a two-time All-American) and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1972.10. Jeff Kemp (Quarterback, Class of 1981)Kemp led Dartmouth to an Ivy League Championship in 1978 and earned Honorable Mention All-Ivy honors. What lands him on the top 10 list is his remarkably resilient pro career. Undrafted out of Dartmouth, he went on to play 11 seasons in the NFL, starting games for the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks, finishing his career with over 9,700 passing yards.Honorable Mentions:Clarence "Fat" Spears (Guard, 1917): A massive, dominant consensus All-American lineman from the pre-WWI era.Casey Cramer (Tight End, 2004): A modern superstar who was a two-time All-American and got drafted into the NFL, playing 5 seasons.Buddy Teevens (Quarterback, 1979): Named Ivy League Player of the Year in 1978 after leading the team to a title, though he is perhaps even more legendary for his two highly successful stints as Dartmouth's head coach.
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Given what you read above, I find myself envying the fellow with the chainsaw and chipper we had doing a little work here a few days ago. Not only did he make more in a few hours than I would make in a few days, I'm pretty sure his role won't ever be taken over by an AI chatbot. Mine, I'm not so sure.
