"A secondary purpose was to give the institution a larger sense of self," she said.
Trollinger said that Harvard would have a place in the vice-presidential debate's media packet, mentioned as the loser of a 1921 football contest again Centre--considered a huge upset at the time.
Jason T. Sauer '02, chair of the IOP Forum advisory committee, lives in Owensboro, Kentucky, less than two hours away from Centre College. He said he has friends at the school who have worked hard on the debate effort.
"There were representatives from Centre at the Democratic convention handing out buttons and shirts. I think [desire] has a big appeal for the commission," he said.
Sauer said he understands why the University has not made a push for the debates in the past.
"Harvard has heads of state, senators, and even presidential candidates here all the time," he said. "It doesn't mean as much to us."