Sport and warfare
By the time this theme is fully explained, the title of the novel is shown to be a double entendre. On the one hand, it refers to the arena of sport and football. After all, Taft Robinson is an all-star recruit who has made the whole team more likely to succeed in their division. But on the other hand, under the rising tension of the Cold War, the fun seems to fade away. The very nature of competition becomes a cruel joke at the athletes' expense. The second End Zone is the likelihood of apocalypse and thermonuclear disaster.
Nihilism and death
The theme of nihilism is seen in the philosophy classes that Taft and Gary Harkness attend. There they study the existentialists and absurdists, alongside some friendly classmates. In light of these ideas, and the looming Cold War, there arises a tension between the fun of sports and the cruelty of warfare. They see that the two are existentially connected by a common thread of human nature. When a coach commits suicide at the end of Part 1, their philosophical opinions are solidified. Further developments in the novel show more death and further developments in their understanding of meaninglessness.
Academy and history
Taft Robinson is also swept up in the crisis of meaninglessness and detachment. The realities of the Cold War have left the entire university without the drive that would lead them to compete well. With one coach dead by suicide and the other on the verge of existential insanity, what reason does Taft have to compete? He was merely selected by the university, and for this, he has become a deeply loyal participant of his team, but in light of the Cold War, he realizes that there is something disturbing about that willingness to loyalty. He turns instead to academy and history, giving up competition and sport forever.
