Academic debate is not something that happens in a given venue where showmanship is neccessary like in a debating contest. Academic debate is an ongoing process in the published literature and at conferences and symposia all over the world.
What you describe as an academic debate is more a sort of formal debating contest like the English Speaking Union runs.
There may have been a time when Academic debate could be run somewhat along those lines under the auspices of organisations like the Royal Society, but now there are so many academics in so many fields, especially in the sciences, that the most substantial arena for debate is in the published literature. One might argue that there is a degree of showmanship in producing a well crafted research paper but the ideal is that it is the research itself that is compelling.
And when it comes to compelling research the ID/creationist camp are nowhere.
TTFN,
WK