"If HYP weren't at the top there was a flaw with the methodology, so they had to go back and get a new methodology that would conform with conventional wisdom."
Most importantly, I think it's important to understand that if HYP (and others in the Ivy League) weren't in the ranking nobody would take the ranking seriously.
So you have to have a smattering at least of what people are expecting to see or you don't have a list worth considering and reading.
If you are going to have a list of anything, in order to elevate lesser known members of the list, you have to have credible proof of known entities that everyone can relate to.
For example take the Rolling Stone list of the 100 greatest acts of all time. Particularly the top 10:
Most importantly, I think it's important to understand that if HYP (and others in the Ivy League) weren't in the ranking nobody would take the ranking seriously.
So you have to have a smattering at least of what people are expecting to see or you don't have a list worth considering and reading.
If you are going to have a list of anything, in order to elevate lesser known members of the list, you have to have credible proof of known entities that everyone can relate to.
For example take the Rolling Stone list of the 100 greatest acts of all time. Particularly the top 10:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-artists...
The top four positions are taken by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Elvis, and the Rolling Stones.
Can you imagine in this list if those four didn't appear until position 71 85 93 99?
Nobody would believe the rest of the list.