Brimhall continued to support the BYU athletics programs, just as his predecessor, Cluff, had done. During Brimhall's presidency, the Training School Building gymnasium was constructed and because football had been banned by the board, the school focused on basketball, baseball, and track. Brimhall was known for his influential speeches that were able to evoke both positive and negative emotions from the students and faculty. He was also known for his outgoing and talkative nature, which helped him secure friends who could come to his aid for emotional and financial hardships.