nearby towns Cheneyville, East Lynn, Wellington and Rankin, the name was changed to its current form, "Hoopeston Area". On March 16, 1985, the best known Cornjerkers were members of the varsity basketball team. The team was ranked number three in the state of Illinois in Class A basketball. According to Don Dukes, then-Mayor of Hoopeston, " After this past weekend, there should not be anyone in the state of Illinois who doesn't know what a Cornjerker is and where one comes from." Notable former Cornjerkers Thad Matta, 1980s Cornjerker basketball star and former NCAA head men's basketball coach (Ohio State) Herb Neathery, Hoopeston High School class of 1948, went on to play NCAA class football at the University of Illinois. Herb was on the Illini team that beat Stanford 40-7 in the 1952 Rose Bowl. Neathery was drafted by the Cleveland Browns. Scott Eells, Hoopeston-East Lynn High School class of 1975, went on to play NCAA basketball at Indiana University. Scott played for the Hoosiers during their undefeated 1975-76 NCAA Championship season. David Theobald, class of 1968, went on to play NCAA football for Western Illinois University. Theobald is the author of the book "Cornjerkers". References External links Hoopeston Area High School Illinois High School Association site, includes basketball records Agriculture in the United States Maize production Obsolete occupations