Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 September 1

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Today's featured article
The 2007 University of Southern California Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California during the college football season of 2007–2008, winning a share of the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) Championship and winning the 2008 Rose Bowl. The team was coached by Pete Carroll and played their home games at the Los Angeles Coliseum. The team entered the season with high expectations. It was ranked No. 1 in all national pre-season polls, picked unanimously to win the Pac-10 Conference and expected to contend for a national championship. Those hopes were dealt a major blow when the Trojans lost to 41-point underdog Stanford in a mid-season game that was named one of the greatest upsets in a season that became defined by them. After their second loss, there were questions as to whether the team would be able to even win their own conference, let alone compete nationally. However, USC defied mid-season expectations and rallied, finishing the season ranked No. 2 in the Coaches Poll and No. 3 in the Associated Press (AP) Poll. The Trojans accomplished two major feats: They became the first team to win six straight Pac-10 titles, and were the first team in major college football to achieve six straight 11-win seasons. (more...) Recently featured: "Amazing Grace" – Simon Bolivar Buckner – History of Michigan State University Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that the hairy geebung (pictured) is endangered by too frequent fires? ... that blind 2012 Paralympic swimmer Tim Antalfy also surfs, water skis and wakeboards? ... that Dr. James West, the founding medical director of the Betty Ford Center, was an alcoholic when he was a student and later wrote as a newspaper columnist about alcoholism and alcohol abuse? ... that Saqlain Mushtaq took 19 five-wicket hauls during his career in international cricket, and achieved two hat-tricks in One Day International matches, both against Zimbabwe? ... that "culture warrior" Bachtiar Effendi was active in the cinemas of both Indonesia and Italy? ... that eating paradise nuts can cause nausea, vomiting and hair loss? ... that American economist and professor Stanley Lebergott argued that consumerism has had a positive impact on the U.S. economy and standard of living? ... that blind 2012 Paralympic swimmer Jeremy McClure completed the 2011 Ironman 70.3 Busselton with assistance from sighted guides in running, cycling and swimming? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
A national emergency is declared in Sierra Leone after a cholera outbreak causes the deaths of more than 300 people. At least 36 people are presumed dead after Hurricane Isaac (satellite image pictured) strikes the Gulf Coast of the United States, Lesser Antilles, Greater Antilles and the Bahamas. The opening ceremony of the Summer Paralympic Games is held in London. An Israeli court rules that the Israel Defense Forces and the Ministry of Defense were not responsible for the death of Rachel Corrie in the Gaza Strip in 2003. More than 2,000 people riot in Mombasa, Kenya, in reaction to the shooting death of Muslim cleric Aboud Rogo. Syrian civil war – Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
September 1: Start of the Liturgical year in the Eastern Orthodox Church; Constitution Day in Slovakia; Independence Day in Uzbekistan (1991) 1715 – Louis XIV of France (pictured), the "Sun King", died after a reign of 72 years, longer than any other French or other major European monarch at the time. 1804 – German astronomer Karl Ludwig Harding discovered one of the largest main belt asteroids, naming it Juno after the Roman goddess. 1862 – American Civil War: Confederate forces attacked retreating Union Army troops at the Battle of Chantilly during a rainstorm in Chantilly, Virginia, but the fighting ended up being tactically inconclusive. 1914 – The Passenger Pigeon, which once had a population of at least 3 billion birds, became extinct, when the last individual died in captivity. 1972 – American chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer became the 11th World Chess Champion when he defeated Russian Boris Spassky in a match that was widely publicized as a Cold War confrontation. More anniversaries: August 31 – September 1 – September 2 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now September 1, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

This 1873 painting, Les dernières cartouches ("The last bullets") depicts a small detachment from the "Blue Division" of the French Army's Troupes de marine in the Battle of Bazeilles on 1 September 1870. As the French Army retreated from its loss at the Battle of Sedan, this group remained in the last house on the road to Sedan, fighting to the last bullet to cover the retreat.

Artist: Alphonse-Marie-Adolphe de Neuville;
Restoration: Adam Cuerden

Recently featured: Cadmium – Making a death mask – Canadian Museum of Civilization

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