Home Care In Bryce, UT

In her time at UT Law, 3L Bryce Bradley has thoughtfully selected courses and experiences that marry her two loves: sports and business. As she approaches graduation this spring, she is well-prepared for a career in sports law.

A Family-Inspired Interest in Entrepreneurship, Sports

“My family has an entrepreneurial spirit that goes back several generations,” Bradley says. “Both my mom and dad’s parents were entrepreneurs. My parents have owned their own business for as long as I can remember.”

Bradley’s interest in entrepreneurship influenced her decision to pursue degrees in International Business and French at Auburn University. She wasted no time putting her education to work. She explains, “My sister and I founded Boundless Loungewear, a women’s clothing store serving customers in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada,”

Bradley was also inspired by her family’s love of sports when she accepted a position in Auburn University’s student athlete recruiting program. In that role, she was involved in meeting with top football recruits and their families, giving them campus tours, sharing her student experience, and accompanying them to home football games. Bradley explains, “During this experience, I was exposed to the behind-the-scenes business of sports. I picked up a little bit of everything: branding, marketing, recruiting, and scouting.”

Thoughtfully Selecting Courses to Prepare for a Career in Sports Law

This background inspired Bradley to pursue a legal education and a career in sports law. In fall 2021, she enrolled at the University of Tennessee College of Law. After completing the required 1L curriculum, Bradley set out to select courses that would prepare her for a career in sports law. That coursework included a broad foundation in business law courses, specialized study in sports law, and a writing project focused on a sports law topic.

Bradley explains that she has selected a number of courses with a business law focus, including income tax, business associations, negotiation, and contract drafting. She notes that skills learned in Negotiation—taught by adjunct professor Judge Greg McMillan (UT Law ’92)—will be particularly helpful in the field of sports law.

Central to her sports law education, Bradley has the opportunity to take Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and Sports Law with adjunct professor Bobby Bramhall (UT Law ‘17). Bramhall is a former college and professional athlete who co-founded an NIL management and operations company in 2021. He currently provides sports law consulting and advising services for companies and agencies. Of Bramhall’s NIL course, Bradley explains, “This course has sharpened my understanding of NIL policies, as well as the resources and tools that sports attorneys and agents use to represent their clients in this area of the law. Professor Bramhall teaches this course in an energetic and engaging manner – it is by far my favorite class this semester.” Bradley is looking forward to taking Sports Law with Professor Bramhall in her final semester of law school.

Bradley deepened her understanding of NIL by writing a research paper in the area, under the supervision of Professor Brian Krumm. The paper addresses NIL collectives, which are entities that help athletes seek, manage, and execute NIL deals. Her paper will be published digitally by the Tennessee Law Review.

Gaining Sports Law Experience Outside of the Classroom

“Throughout my time in law school, I made an effort to talk to my professors about my interests and seek advice to gain direction and clarity in my goals,” Bradley says. “Professor Paula Schaefer asked me about my plans for the summer. When I explained that I wanted to find an opportunity to work in sports, she immediately thought of several UT Law alumni that she thought would help me. These connections eventually led to me securing my first ever sports agency internship.”

Bradley interned in the summer of 2023 with Solace Sports and Entertainment, an agency co-owned by UT Law alumna Folasade Omogun Broadnax (UT Law ’16). At Solace Sports, Bradley says she learned about the skills needed to represent student-athletes. In the current semester, Bradley is interning with the University of Tennessee Athletics Compliance office. She is also a member of UT Law’s team that will be competing in Tulane’s Professional Football Negotiation Competition in January 2024.

Bradley has gained further sports law connections and knowledge through involvement in various professional organizations. She is a student member of the American Bar Association’s Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries, and the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association. She has also attended the Black Sports Business Symposium in Atlanta. The event encourages the development of black professionals and students within professional sports—spanning leagues, teams, and agencies.

A Bright Future in Sports Law

With experience in sports recruiting, compliance, athlete representation, and international business, Bradley is interested in working in client relations and representation for a sports agency or as a business executive for a sports brand. “I have become aware that there are so many opportunities around the world,” she says. “I am open-minded and optimistic about my future as I explore both domestic and international opportunities.”

NIL Professor Bobby Bramhall expects big things from Bradley in the field of sports law. Bramhall says, “Bryce will not only find a way into sports law, but she will also pave new roads in the industry. She has a high sports IQ and is emotionally intelligent when it comes to professional relationships and interactions about various topics. Her fearless ability to engage, as well as her knowledge of sports, will be valuable in client interactions.”

When I think of Utah, I think of national parks. In addition to well-known Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon make up the “Mighty Five” – a must for many hikers’ bucket lists.

As part of Lonely Planet’s social team, I’d seen those red rocks time and time again on my newsfeed. And when the opportunity came up to visit Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon, I had the privilege of finally experiencing them for myself.

Disclaimer: I’ve never been to Zion, Arches or Canyonlands, so I can’t compare and contrast them all. I’m more of a casual hiker, the kind of person who’s a city girl at heart but likes to get outside, challenge herself a bit and look at pretty landscapes as a reminder of how big and bright the world is.

Southwestern Utah delivered exactly what I was looking for – and then some.

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Where did you stay? What was the vibe?

For two nights, I and a handful of other travel journalists stayed at Under Canvas Bryce Canyon, just 15 minutes away from the park.

It puts the “glam” in glamping.

My private tent somehow fit a full bed and bathroom – a real toilet and hot shower, score! – along with a seating area. It felt like a normal hotel room, except that I had to unzip it to get inside and light a stove to stay warm overnight. Since the property and other guests were pretty spread out (the main lobby tent was a 10-minute walk away), I felt alone but not too alone. I got my fill of socializing at the fire pits, where travelers swapped stories and snacked on s’mores after dinner. There’s zero wi-fi and limited cell signal here, which means you can truly disconnect and stay in the moment.

Closer to Capitol Reef in Torrey, we checked into Skyview, which recently opened in one of Utah’s many International Dark Sky–designated communities. My double room included an outdoor hot tub with a front-row seat to the red rocks (and the cattle grazing beside them). Unfortunately for me, the hotel’s domes – deluxe bubble tents with skylights for stargazing – weren’t open to the public yet; ideally, I would’ve slept in one of those to round out my glamping experience. Still, the desert is so secluded that even in the brick-and-mortar rooms you’ll feel like you’re off the grid. There were limited dining options in a town this small: I loved grabbing a cider at the nearby Etta Place or breakfast at Wild Rabbit Cafe, and feeling that the local Torrey community appreciated my business.

What’s the most under-the-radar activity you enjoyed?

The thing about popular hikes is that you’re inevitably going to get stuck in a bottleneck waiting to scramble over a rock or shuffle through a narrow path. For a New Yorker as impatient as I am, that really kills the mood. Enter Sulfur Creek trail at Capitol Reef, a 5.8-mile trek of untouched nature that was gloriously devoid of other people. Mason, a guide at Sleeping Rainbow Adventures, led my group through the slot canyons while teaching us about the geological wonders around us. It was good to have someone to follow, since there’s literally nothing made by humans here: no trail markers, no signs, no bathrooms, no trash cans. There are also no steep inclines, which made my legs very happy.

The most fun part was descending via the creek’s waterfalls; if you go, be sure to wear waterproof everything. While the water level varies throughout the year (check the National Park Service so you know what conditions to expect), it can get as high as your chest, so put your stuff in dry bags and leave anything cotton in your room. I started the hike in normal socks and sneakers, then switched to neoprene socks with sport sandals once we hit the creek. You’re wading through water over slippery rocks, so you’ll need shoes that support your ankles.

Best thing you ate?

The drive from Torrey to Bryce Canyon is just as much of an attraction as the parks it connects. We cruised Scenic Byway 12 and stopped in Boulder, Utah for a true farm-to-table lunch at Hell’s Backbone Grill & Farm (so named due to a rugged stretch with sharp drops on either side of the road). Chefs Blake Spalding and Jen Castle founded the restaurant over two decades ago with a focus on sustainable agriculture rooted in the land’s rich history. One of the most delicious dishes we tried was made with Fremont beans native to southwestern Utah. I’d never seen beans this big before, and it was cool to know I was eating something Indigenous communities had been harvesting in the area for centuries. Even the food I eat all the time, like strawberries, somehow taste better when you watch someone pick them out of the ground.

Runner-up for my favorite meal was pizza delivery from Garden Patch in Torrey. Owner Beth rolled up to Skyview with her wood-fired oven attached to her car and made us roadside pies, right then and there. I’m lactose intolerant and do my best to avoid cheese; her pesto-and-veggies made for the best – yes, best – cheeseless slice I’ve ever had.

What was the most touristy thing you did?

At Bryce Canyon, I hopped on an e-bike and (after a few laps around a parking lot to double-check I hadn’t forgotten how to ride) coasted along the Canyon 2 Canyon trail. I was happy we took e-bikes instead of old-school bicycles, since I could glide through the ponderosa pines and appreciate the wind on my face rather than stressing about pedaling fast enough to keep up with more-experienced bikers.

After we made a quick pit stop in Old Bryce Town (a nice break if you want to feel like you’re in a cheesy western movie) and took the obligatory tourist photo in front of the Bryce Canyon National Park sign, we arrived at Inspiration Point. This is a stunning overlook from which to ooh and aah over the hoodoos – so do expect large tour groups, and be sure to bring your camera.

What is the one thing that you did not expect?

The nights were surprisingly chilly for a Utah summer. Because Torrey is at over 6000ft of elevation and Bryce Canyon even higher, you should expect much cooler temperatures in these towns versus those in Moab or Salt Lake City, which can hit 90° to 100°F. I found the mid-June weather to be warm and sunny during the day: perfect for hiking.

In the evenings, I needed a light puffer. At Under Canvas, I had to get extra blankets from the front desk because once the fire in my stove went out, it was uncomfortably cold no matter how much fleece I layered on. So if you’re headed on a similar trip to Capitol Reef or Bryce Canyon, pack both waterproof clothes to splash around in waterfalls and a warm jacket to bundle up when the sun goes down. You’ll thank me later.

Deepa traveled to Utah at the invitation of Visit Utah. Lonely Planet does not accept freebies in exchange for positive coverage.

BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Utah - A Sedona woman was found dead at Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park after a thunderstorm and flash flooding hit the area, park officials said Saturday.

Jeanne Roblez Howell, 64, was reported missing at 7 p.m. on Friday after she was supposed to return from an afternoon hike on the Fairyland Loop Trail.

Howell's body was found overnight in Campbell Canyon, which is a mile east of the trail.

The cause of death has yet to be determined, but officials said a thunderstorm had brought heavy rain and flash flooding to the area Friday afternoon.

Jeanne Roblez Howell's legacy

Students in Sedona are mourning the loss of the beloved math teacher at Valley Verde School in Sedona – a private, international boarding school.

Her children say she was adventurous, an expert hiker, and well-prepared for every emergency – but she wasn’t expecting a flash flood.

"She’s just a beacon of light," said her son Benjamin Howell.

He thought of his mother as being invincible. She hiked Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Olympus in her 50s.

"She’s hiked that exact trail at Bryce Canyon about 10 different times," he said. "She used to carry double the amount of water that she needed, just in case someone on the trail needed help, so she had everything except for a steel cage."

National Park officials say Jeanne’s cause of death was not immediately known, but they do know there was flash flooding in the area where she had been hiking.

Over at Valley Verde School, students and staff created a colorful memorial, adorning her classroom door with handwritten notes and photos.

"I know my mom, and it’s just amazing. I’m so grateful all these students got to experience her. All her past students have been posting about what an impact she made," said her daughter Tess Harrell.

Her daughter says if she had known there was a possibility of flash flooding in the area, her mother would not have gone on the solo hike.

"I just couldn't believe it. If there were any weather advisories she wouldn’t have gone," she said. "But, I have comfort that she was out hiking and doing something that she loved."

Jeanne leaves behind her longtime husband, two children, and nine grandchildren. They say she will be remembered for her adventurous spirit and contagious positivity.

Where it happened:

An Arizona teacher considered "an experienced and enthusiastic hiker" has been found dead after going missing last week in a national park in Utah, officials announced over the weekend.

Jeanne Roblez Howell, 64, disappeared Friday during a hike on the 8-mile Fairyland Loop trail at Bryce Canyon National Park, the U.S. National Park Service reported. Howell was reported missing around 7 p.m. after failing to check in from a 2 p.m. hike, officials said.

Body found in Campbell Canyon

Park officials said rescue teams with the Garfield County Sheriff’s office and the Utah Department of Public Safety searched the area and found Howell unresponsive at around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Her body was found in Campbell Canyon, about a mile east of the Fairyland Loop.

A Garfield County medical examiner pronounced her dead at the scene.

Park officials said Howell lived in Sedona, Arizona.

Her cause and manner of death were not immediately known but officials said there was flash flooding in the area around the time she disappeared.

Flash flooding observed in area

A Friday afternoon thunderstorm brought heavy rain to the northern end of Bryce Canyon National Park, park officials said, saying it was seen along the trail where Howell was reportedly hiking.

“This is a tragic event, and our deepest sympathy goes out to the victim’s friends and family,” Allana Olbrich, acting Bryce Canyon superintendent said in a statement.

'An experience and enthusiastic hiker'

According to her Facebook page, Howell taught math at Verde Valley School in Sedona.

The school website says she taught math for more than 30 years in cities as far away as Johannesburg, South Africa, where she and her husband lived for four years. The site includes a photo of her in the outdoors dressed in hiking gear and smiling.

Neither Howell's husband nor a spokesperson for the school could immediately be reached for comment.

Benjamin Lee, head of school at Verde Valley School, told the Verde Valley Independent newspaper that Howell was "an experienced and enthusiastic hiker."

He said that the school "was in the grieving process with the community and her family."

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @nataliealund.